Dr. Paul Burton to Join Moderna as Chief Medical Officer
Moderna (Nasdaq: MRNA) announced the appointment of Paul Burton, M.D., Ph.D., as Chief Medical Officer, effective July 6, 2021. He brings over 16 years of experience from Johnson & Johnson, where he led global medical affairs. CEO Stéphane Bancel emphasized Burton's expertise as crucial for Moderna's international expansion and innovation in mRNA therapeutics. Burton’s background includes extensive publication in peer-reviewed journals and a focus on leveraging data science in medical engagement. His hiring follows the departure of previous CMO Tal Zaks after six years of service.
- Paul Burton's appointment as CMO brings 16 years of medical affairs experience from Johnson & Johnson.
- Burton's expertise is expected to enhance Moderna's international expansion and mRNA therapeutic innovation.
- Tal Zaks, the former CMO, is leaving the company after a significant tenure, which may impact continuity in leadership.
Moderna, Inc., (Nasdaq: MRNA) a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines, today announced that Paul Burton, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.C, M.R.C.S will join the Company as Chief Medical Officer, effective July 6, 2021. He will serve on Moderna’s Executive Committee and report to Chief Executive Officer Stéphane Bancel.
“Paul’s extensive medical experience in the global pharmaceutical and biotech industry will be important to Moderna as we expand internationally and continue our journey as a commercial company,” said Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna. “As we work to deliver on the promise of mRNA science to create a new generation of transformative medicines for patients, Paul’s expertise across multiple therapeutic areas and his proven track record leveraging data science and digital technologies to reimagine medical engagement will be invaluable. I look forward to working with Paul and re-inventing how medical affairs should be built and run in a digital world.”
Dr. Burton joins Moderna after spending sixteen years with Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ). Since March 2020, he served as Chief Global Medical Affairs Officer of Janssen Pharmaceuticals where he was responsible for Janssen’s worldwide medical affairs strategy and execution. Previously, he served as Janssen’s Vice President and Head, Cardiovascular and Metabolic (CVM) Medical Affairs. Dr. Burton also led the Johnson & Johnson collaboration with APPLE for the digital HEARTLINE™ study, and previously led clinical operations for all therapeutic areas across the Americas.
“Moderna’s transformative platform has the potential to improve the lives of so many people around the world,” said Dr. Burton. “I am honored to take on the role of Chief Medical Officer at Moderna.”
Dr. Burton has an M.D. from the University of London, is board certified in surgery and is a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons with specialist training in cardiothoracic surgery. He holds a Ph.D. in cardiovascular molecular and cellular biology from Imperial College in London and is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. He has published extensively in peer reviewed journals.
Earlier in 2021, the Company announced that Moderna’s Chief Medical Officer Tal Zaks, M.D., Ph.D., will be leaving the Company after six years of service.
“As Paul prepares to join us, I would like to thank Tal once again for his impact over the last six years. Tal’s guidance and contributions were important in helping Moderna move from a preclinical company to where we are today. Through his leadership in Moderna’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tal’s contribution extends beyond Moderna to all of society. I have enjoyed having him as my partner and wish him all the best,” said Stéphane Bancel.
About Moderna
In 10 years since its inception, Moderna has transformed from a science research-stage company advancing programs in the field of messenger RNA (mRNA), to an enterprise with a diverse clinical portfolio of vaccines and therapeutics across six modalities, a broad intellectual property portfolio in areas including mRNA and lipid nanoparticle formulation, and an integrated manufacturing plant that allows for both clinical and commercial production at scale and at unprecedented speed. Moderna maintains alliances with a broad range of domestic and overseas government and commercial collaborators, which has allowed for the pursuit of both groundbreaking science and rapid scaling of manufacturing. Most recently, Moderna’s capabilities have come together to allow the authorized use of one of the earliest and most-effective vaccines against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moderna’s mRNA platform builds on continuous advances in basic and applied mRNA science, delivery technology and manufacturing, and has allowed the development of therapeutics and vaccines for infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases, cardiovascular diseases and autoimmune diseases. Today, 24 development programs are underway across these therapeutic areas, with 14 programs having entered the clinic. Moderna has been named a top biopharmaceutical employer by Science for the past six years. To learn more, visit www.modernatx.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including regarding: the Company’s hiring Dr. Paul Burton as Chief Medical Officer and the Company’s efforts to apply digital technologies to mRNA-based medicine. The forward-looking statements in this press release are neither promises nor guarantees, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond Moderna’s control and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include those other risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in Moderna’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and in subsequent filings made by Moderna with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as required by law, Moderna disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements contained in this press release in the event of new information, future developments or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are based on Moderna’s current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof.
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