San Diego, CA – (June 19, 2017) –The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) is pleased to announce the election of John Maraganore, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., as the new Chair of its Board of Directors for the 2017-2018 term, and the election of Julie Gerberding, Executive Vice President for Strategic Communications, Global Public Policy & Population Health & Chief Patient Officer, Merck, as its new Board Secretary. BIO also is pleased to announce the re-election of Bradford Zakes, Chief Executive Officer, Cerevast Therapeutics, as Board Treasurer, and the election of 19 Directors to serve on BIO’s Board Executive Committee for the new term. In addition, BIO welcomes the election of 15 new members to its Board of Directors, voted upon at this year’s 2017 BIO International Convention.
The new Chair has led a career pursuing therapies to address unmet medical needs. At Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Maraganore is helping lead the development of RNAi therapeutics which aim to address genetic medicines, cardio-metabolic diseases and hepatic infectious diseases.
“We are excited for this new chapter of BIO with John at the helm,” said BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood. “He brings both a scientific background and a passion for ensuring that breakthrough research is transformed into medicines, therapies and other products that can truly change people’s lives. He is keenly aware that educating the public and policy makers is the best way to ensure that effective therapies reach the marketplace.
“I also want to thank our departing Chair, Ron Cohen, for his leadership over the past two years. Ron started his tenure with appropriately changing our name from the Biotechnology Industry Organization to the Biotechnology Innovation Organization to better reflect our real purpose. For the past few years, our industry has weathered many challenges. Ron’s steady and able leadership has been critical in ensuring that our industry remains positioned to continue our mission of healing, fueling and feeding the world.”
Dr. Maraganore has served on BIO’s board for over a decade and has spent time as the chair of the Emerging Companies Section and as a co-chair of the Regulatory Environment Committee.
“I am honored and privileged to be selected for this important role,” said Maraganore. “My belief in the importance of BIO’s mission will guide me through my tenure. This industry has so much to offer and I will make every effort to ensure we are able to deliver.”
Greenwood also welcomed new directors joining the BIO Board. “The new Directors bring a wealth of expertise and diversity in experience that will help to inspire and guide our efforts going forward,” he said. “I am confident that their contributions to BIO and the industry will be substantial.”
Departing Board member contributions were also recognized by Greenwood. “BIO is deeply appreciative of the generous service of our departing board members,” said Greenwood. “Their tireless work on behalf of our industry will leave a lasting mark.”
Members of the Executive Committee of BIO’s Board of Directors for the 2017-2018 term are:
- John Maraganore, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals – Board Chair/Health Section Chair
- Bradford Zakes, Chief Executive Officer, Cerevast Therapeutics – Board Treasurer
- Julie Gerberding, Executive Vice President & Chief Patient Officer, Merck – Board Secretary
- Paul Hastings, Chairman & CEO, OncoMed Pharmaceuticals – Health Section Vice Chair
- Alan Shaw, President & CEO, Calysta – Industrial & Environmental Section (IES) Chair
- Tjerk de Ruiter, Chief Executive Officer, Corbian – IES Vice Chair
- Michael Narachi, President & CEO, Orexigen Therapeutics – Emerging Companies Section (ECS) Chair
- Maxine Gowen, President & CEO, Trevena, ECS Vice Chair
- Eddie Sullivan, President & CEO, SAB Biotherapeutics – Food and Agriculture Section (FAS) Chair
- Phillip Miller, Global Regulatory & Government Affairs Lead, Monsanto Company, FAS Vice Chair
- Ron Cohen, President & CEO, Acorda Therapeutics – Immediate Past Chair
- Stuart Arbuckle, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated – At-Large
- Albert Bourla, Group President of Global Innovative Pharma Global Vaccines Oncology & Consumer, Pfizer – At-Large
- Doug Doerfler, President & CEO, MaxCyte – At-Large
- Rachel King, Chief Executive Officer, GlycoMimetics – At-Large
- Jeremy Levin, Chairman & CEO, Ovid Therapeutics – At-Large
- Richard Pops, Chairman & CEO, Alkermes – At-Large
- Christi Shaw, Senior Vice President & President Lilly Bio Medicines
- Jay Siegel, Chief Biotechnology Officer & Head of Scientific Strategy & Policy, Johnson & Johnson – At-Large
The full BIO Board of Directors is comprised of the elected Directors serving on each of BIO’s Section Governing Boards. The newly-elected Board Members from these Sections are:
Health Section Governing Board
- Carsten Brunn, Head of Pharmaceuticals, American Region, Bayer
- Paul McKenzie, Executive Vice President, Pharmaceutical Operations & Technology, Biogen
- Josh Ofman, Senior Vice President, Global Value, Access & Policy, Amgen
- Anne Phillips, Senior Vice President, Clinical, Medical & Regulatory Affairs, Novo Nordisk
- Christi Shaw, Senior Vice President & President Lilly Bio Medicines
- Scott Smith, President & Chief Operating Officer, Celgene
- Nancy Simonian, Chief Executive Officer, Syros Pharmaceuticals
- Chris Healey, Executive Director, North America, Grifols
- John Lepore, Senior Vice President, GlaxoSmithKline
Emerging Companies Section Governing Board
- Laura Berezin, Partner, Cooley, LLP
- Bassil Dahiyat, President, Director & CEO, XmAb
- Deborah Dunsire, President & CEO, XTuit Pharmaceuticals
- Neil Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, BridgeBIO
- George Scangos, Director & CEO, Vir
Industrial & Environmental Section Governing Board
- Christopher Standlee, Vice President Legal Affairs, ICM