Welcome to this week's Chutes & Ladders, our roundup of significant leadership hirings, firings and retirings across the industry. Please send the good word—or the bad—from your shop to Darren Incorvaia, Marissa Russo or Donavyn Coffey, and it will be featured here at the end of each week.
Bayer appoints internal candidate to CMO role
Seven months after Mike Devoy left Bayer, the German pharmaceutical giant has appointed Christoph Koenen, M.D., as its new chief medical officer.
Koenen—who has been at the drugmaker since 2022 following stints at Bristol Myers Squibb, Novo, Boehringer and GSK—will take up his new role in addition to his current responsibilities as head of clinical development and operations of the pharmaceuticals division.
Bayer's C-suite has been shaken up in recent years, with previous CMO Devoy bumped from the leadership team back in 2024.
“Christoph Koenen brings deep experience as a physician, former chief medical officer, and global R&D leader,” Stefan Oelrich, president of the company’s pharmaceuticals division, said in an Oct. 1 release. “His leadership will help further integrate clinical development and medical activities as we advance our strategic focus in R&D on delivering transformative medicines to patients faster.”
Cantor steps into PhRMA’s house as CEO
PhRMA
Following news of a planned CEO departure for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the United States’ top drug industry lobbying group has tapped a new leader well versed in navigating disagreements and reaching consensus with those in power. Eric Cantor, who represented Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives for 14 years and served as House majority leader from 2011 to 2014, will step up as PhRMA’s next president and CEO on Nov. 9. Cantor is taking over after Steve Ubl’s 10-year run ends at an undeniably turbulent time for the pharmaceutical industry. Story
Moderna veteran rejoins for second act
Moderna
After three years in retirement, Moderna alum Juan Andres is set to rejoin the company as its first chief operating officer, effective Oct. 5. At the same time, Moderna’s Chief Technical Operations and Quality Officer Jerh Collins, Ph.D., is retiring.
Andres' reinstallation comes as Moderna prepares for the potential launch of intismeran autogene, a Merck-partnered mRNA cancer vaccine that generated widespread attention earlier this year after positive phase 3 results. The COO role will also support the company’s expanded infectious disease franchise.
During his first tenure at Moderna, Andres played a critical role in the company’s rapid expansion to support production of its COVID-19 vaccine. He served as the drugmaker’s chief technical operations and quality officer from 2018 to 2022 and as president of strategic partnerships and enterprise expansion before retiring in 2023.
“As we enter the next chapter of Moderna, Juan's experience leading complex global operations will be invaluable. He knows Moderna deeply and was an extraordinary partner to me as we built and scaled the company,” said Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel. Release
Novartis says farewell to oncology cell and gene therapy head
Novartis
After a 22-year stint, the Basel Big Pharma says goodbye to its head of cancer cell and gene therapies, Jennifer Brogdon, Ph.D. At the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Brogdon was a crucial piece in advancing Novartis’ CAR T-cell therapy program. During her time at Novartis, the Swiss pharma secured the first ever approval for a CAR-T, the blood cancer therapy, Kymriah. The drugmaker’s current cell therapy pipeline features rapcabtagene autoleucel, a CD19 CAR T in phase 2 studies for B-cell lymphoma, and a DLL3 CAR-T in phase 1 studies for solid tumors like small cell lung cancer.
Brogdon has spent nearly her entire career working her way up at Novartis, following a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University. LinkedIn
> London-based Lift Therapeutics is rising toward the clinic with the help of IO Biotech veteran Eva Ehrnrooth, M.D., Ph.D., as executive head of clinical development. Release
> Precision oncology outfit Ideaya Biosciences has promoted Chief Scientific Officer Michael White, Ph.D., to president of research and development. Release
> Xilio Therapeutics has a new chief medical officer in Yariv Houvras, M.D., Ph.D., who recently led clinical development at German biotech Tubulis before its acquisition by Gilead. Release
> Chris Hassig, Ph.D., has a new calling as chief scientific officer at ADC specialist Callio Therapeutics. Release
> Macrocycle company Circle Pharma has rounded up some new leaders, with Marie Evangelista, Ph.D., promoted to chief scientific officer and Mary Ellen Sillivos coming aboard as senior vice president and head of human resources. Release
> Gossamer Bio vet Aaron Hasnain has pivoted to Avenzo Therapeutics, where he’ll serve as senior vice president of business development alongside fellow new SVP Annie Chang, who will head up investor relations and corporate communications. Release
> Québécois biologics manufacturer Biodextris is saying bonjour to new CEO Clement Fourny. Release
> Neurocrine Biosciences’ strategic advisor and veteran CMO, Eiry Roberts, M.D., will resume the CMO position immediately as Sanjay Keswani, M.D. departs the company. Release
> Dutch biotech Pharming is undergoing a leadership transition. Current CEO Fabrice Chouraqui agreed to step down immediately. In the interim, Pharming’s COO and CFO, Laverne Marsh and Kenneth Lynard, will serve as co-CEOs, with Marsh leading patient-focused operations and Lynard heading up global corporate matters. Release
> Kevin Harvey, Ph.D., will be the next president and CEO of the nonprofit Institute for Protein Innovation. Harvey joins from Aviva Systems Biology and brings more than 20 years of experience in protein and antibody research. Release
> Active pharmaceutical ingredient titan TAPI (Technology & API Services) announced that Serge Rogasik will lead the company through its next phase of growth as CEO. Rogasik has spent his career scaling specialty ingredient businesses, most recently serving as president and CEO of Kensing, a specialty ingredient company owned by Capital Rock Partners. Release
> Bay Area integrin-focused biotech Pliant Therapeutics announced the appointment of Genentech and Amgen alum David Raben, M.D., as chief medical officer. Release
> AstraZeneca and BMS’ Celgene veteran Rajesh Chopra, M.D., Ph.D., is joining Swiss biotech Numab Therapeutics as chief scientific officer as it advances its leading trispecific antibody for inflammatory bowel disease. Release
> Iovance Biotherapeutics, focused on developing tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapies for cancer, has named Noah Berkowitz, M.D., Ph.D., its new chief medical officer. Release
> InflaRx grabbed BMS and AbbVie alum Gabriela Alperovich, M.D., Ph.D., as its newest senior vice president and global head of clinical development. Release
> After more than a decade as Kallyope, the NYC-based migraine-focused biotech is rebranding to TriGemX Bio and tapping Jeff Goater as its new CEO. Release