Profiles

The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders

  • Vertex Pharmaceuticals' Jeffrey Leiden Center for Cell and Genetic Therapies
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    Now a biopharma powerhouse, Vertex’s R&D bedrock could deliver tomorrow’s blockbusters

    From its landmark CRISPR approval to its potential breakthrough drug for pain, Vertex’s development approach, led by chief scientific officer Dr. David Altshuler, is paying off.

    Michael Gibney • April 30, 2024
  • Debra Weiss
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    The pharma ‘fixer’ now helping Gates MRI’s tuberculosis battle

    After getting her start as a nurse, Debra Weiss worked her way up the corporate ladder and is now COO of Gates MRI, which just launched its first phase 3 trial for tuberculosis.

    Alexandra Pecci • March 22, 2024
  • Dr. Marc Conant, chief medical officer, American Gene Technologies
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    Permission granted by Natalie Ferguson/American Gene Technologies
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    HIV isn’t ‘solved,’ but a doctor who treated some of the first patients hopes to finally deliver a cure

    From San Francisco in the 80s to a gene therapy prospect, Dr. Marcus Conant looks back on his long fight against the virus — and if the industry is close to ending the epidemic.

    Michael Gibney • March 5, 2024
  • Gianluca Pirozzi header
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    Behind a big-name rare disease biotech, an exec draws from personal experience

    The personal impact of rare disease has shaped Gianluca Pirozzi, a senior vice president at AstraZeneca’s Alexion, as a parent and drug developer.

    Alexandra Pecci • Feb. 27, 2024
  • Mayukh Sukhatme
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    Rise of the chief investment officer: Why the unique role works for Roivant

    Dr. Mayukh Sukhatme, president and chief investment officer for Roivant, discusses the long game of partnering and business deals in biopharma.

    Alexandra Pecci • Dec. 18, 2023
  • An open peanut shell sits on top a pile of other peanut shells.
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    Stock via Getty Images
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    Three years after an FDA rejection, DBV sees a path for its peanut patch

    Despite lower-than-expected demand for a competing treatment, DBV’s chief medical officer says the company’s topical skin patch could be a game-changing option for patients.

    Karissa Waddick • Sept. 22, 2023
  • Armon horiztonal
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    Permission granted by Armon Sharei
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    ‘Not all rainbows and unicorns’ — a former CEO dishes on his rocky biotech ride

    Armon Sharei took his startup SQZ from a graduate project at MIT to a Big Pharma partnership worth $1B+. Despite the company’s stumbles, Sharei’s enthusiasm for biotech’s future remains.

    Michael Gibney • Sept. 7, 2023
  • Professional headshot of Murray McKinnon
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    Courtesy of Empress Therapeutics
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    Why this scientist left Janssen to help ‘revolutionize’ small molecule drug discovery

    Murray McKinnon, CSO of Empress Therapeutics, believes its drug discovery platform holds the key to treating and detecting many diseases.

    Alexandra Pecci • Sept. 6, 2023
  • Dr. Vivian Cheung, head of Vivian Cheung Lab at University of Michigan
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    A rare disease researcher aims to tackle disability discrimination in new lawsuit

    How a pediatric neurologist is advocating for herself and the disabled community in a legal battle with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

    Alexandra Pecci • Aug. 22, 2023
  • Headshot of Afaxys CEO and co-founder Ronda Dean
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    Putting purpose over profits, this pharma takes on the important issues

    Afaxys is a self-described "socially conscious" contraceptive healthcare company serving an unusual demographic for pharma: the public health sector.

    Alexandra Pecci • Aug. 1, 2023
  • Pills on money
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    doug4537 via Getty Images
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    A pharma banking on the success of past blockbusters

    180 Life Sciences is on a mission to see if the anti-TNF technology that produced a blockbuster could work for a range of other conditions.

    Kelly Bilodeau • July 31, 2023
  • Professional headshot of Colleen Acosta.
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    Permission granted by Freya Biosciences
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    What the 2014 Ebola outbreak taught this biotech CEO about persuasion

    A former WHO epidemiologist is applying lessons learned during the Ebola epidemic to her work leading a company at the forefront of women’s health: the reproductive microbiome.

    Alexandra Pecci • July 18, 2023
  • Professional headshot of Court Horncastle
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    Duty to serve: an Army officer’s unexpected path to GSK

    How Court Horncastle, SVP, business unit head of the anti-infective and respiratory team at GSK, applies lessons from combat to his work in antibiotics.

    Alexandra Pecci • June 21, 2023
  • Close up overhead view of full prescription bottles on stainless steel background
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    Stock via Getty Images
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    Is America ready for a new kind of opioid?

    Tris Pharma’s CEO is “betting the company” on a pain reliever with the power of an opioid and a lower chance of addiction. 

    Alexandra Pecci • June 12, 2023
  • lab tech stock
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    Stock via Getty Images
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    BIO’s CEO digs into the hot-button issues facing the industry

    Rachel King took the reins at BIO during a rocky time. Now, after steadying the ship, she’s brought the trade association’s focus back to the industry’s most pressing priorities.

    Alexandra Pecci • June 5, 2023
  • Trish Hurter on horseback
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    Permission granted by Patricia Hurter
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    A day in the life of a pharma exec: Lyndra’s Patricia Hurter

    How the CEO starts each day with a ride on one of her horses, reduces daily meetings and uses her network to get through crises like the SVB Bank collapse.

    Meagan Parrish • May 17, 2023
  • Daniela Marino headshot
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    This ‘hot-blooded’ CEO is aiming to transform the way burn victims heal

    Cutiss CEO Daniela Marino is funneling her bold personality and expertise in regenerative medicine into a startup developing bioengineered skin grafts.

    Alexandra Pecci • May 9, 2023
  • Peter Kirk Sermo
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    The 99 seconds that changed this CEO’s life

    Peter Kirk’s marathon story of inspiration and perseverance.

    Taren Grom • April 21, 2023
  • eyes
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    A CMO’s quest to tackle infectious diseases leads him to an eye condition that’s often overlooked

    How an “international” childhood sent Dr. José Trevejo, Tarsus’s chief medical officer, on a mission to fight infectious diseases.

    Alexandra Pecci • April 18, 2023
  • Dave Hering
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    Permission granted by Invivyd Therapeutics
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    He helped launch the Pfizer COVID vaccine — now this startup CEO is hunting a lingering pandemic foe

    All of the COVID-19 mAbs have been pulled from the market. But Dave Hering, CEO of Invivyd, hopes to change that.

    Meagan Parrish • April 11, 2023
  • Chantel Moderna
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    Moderna exec: ‘There is nothing but global health’

    How Chantal Friebertshäuser is helping lead Moderna’s plan to expand its global reach.  

    Alexandra Pecci • April 4, 2023
  • Christiane Langer
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    Permission granted by BeiGene
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    A rising oncology powerhouse in China, BeiGene looks to strengthen its international punch

    To expand its reach, Christiane Langer, the company’s head of medical affairs, is leaning on connections and singularity over fitting in a box.

    Michael Gibney • March 14, 2023
  • hands connecting healthcare
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    Stock via Getty Images
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    The power of connections for a startup CEO

    Priyanka Dutta-Passecker, head of wound-care specialist Healiva, discusses the importance of tapping her network in starting and running a biotech.

    Alexandra Pecci • March 14, 2023
  • Two grey haired women sit on a bench eating ice cream
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    Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Tapping into the molecular fountain of youth

    Kristen Fortney, CEO of BioAge Labs, wants to improve the human life span by focusing on the human health span.

    Alexandra Pecci • Feb. 22, 2023
  • Multicolored wave lines in the shape of an eye
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    Stock via Getty Images
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    For Complement’s CEO, storytelling could be just as critical as data

    Dr. Rafiq Hasan has his sights on bringing lessons learned at Bayer to ophthalmology-focused Complement Therapeutics.

    Alexandra Pecci • Feb. 14, 2023