Novavax Names Dr. Ruxandra Draghia-Akli as New Executive Vice President and Head of Research & Development
Novavax (Nasdaq: NVAX) has announced that Dr. Ruxandra Draghia-Akli will join the company in November 2024 as Executive Vice President and Head of Research & Development. Dr. Draghia-Akli brings over 20 years of experience in vaccines and public health, with expertise in clinical, corporate, and policy work. Her appointment comes as Novavax transitions to an R&D-focused organization with an expanded pipeline.
Dr. Draghia-Akli's previous roles include Global Head of Global Public Health R&D at Johnson & Johnson and Vice President of Global Vaccines at Merck. She has also worked with the European Commission on research and innovation issues. Her experience in both large pharmaceutical companies and smaller biotechs is expected to be valuable in strategically evaluating Novavax's portfolio and the potential of its scientific technology, including the Matrix-M™ adjuvant.
Novavax (Nasdaq: NVAX) ha annunciato che Dr. Ruxandra Draghia-Akli
Le precedenti mansioni del Dr. Draghia-Akli includono Capo Globale della Ricerca e Sviluppo per la Salute Pubblica Globale presso Johnson & Johnson e Vicepresidente dei Vaccini Globali presso Merck. Ha anche collaborato con la Commissione Europea su questioni di ricerca e innovazione. La sua esperienza in aziende farmaceutiche di grandi dimensioni e in piccole biotech si prevede sarà preziosa per valutare strategicamente il portafoglio di Novavax e il potenziale della sua tecnologia scientifica, incluso l'adjuvante Matrix-M™.
Novavax (Nasdaq: NVAX) ha anunciado que la Dra. Ruxandra Draghia-Akli se unirá a la empresa en noviembre de 2024 como Vicepresidenta Ejecutiva y Jefa de Investigación y Desarrollo. La Dra. Draghia-Akli aporta más de 20 años de experiencia en vacunas y salud pública, con especialización en trabajo clínico, corporativo y de políticas. Su nombramiento se produce en un momento en que Novavax se transforma en una organización centrada en la I+D con un pipeline ampliado.
Las posiciones anteriores de la Dra. Draghia-Akli incluyen Jefa Global de I+D de Salud Pública Global en Johnson & Johnson y Vicepresidenta de Vacunas Globales en Merck. También ha trabajado con la Comisión Europea en temas de investigación e innovación. Se espera que su experiencia en grandes empresas farmacéuticas y pequeñas biotecnológicas sea valiosa para evaluar estratégicamente el portafolio de Novavax y el potencial de su tecnología científica, incluido el adyuvante Matrix-M™.
노바백스 (Nasdaq: NVAX)는 룩산드라 드라기아- 악클리 박사가 2024년 11월에 회사에 합류하여 부회장 및 연구개발 책임자로 임명될 것이라고 발표했습니다. 드라기아-악클리 박사는 백신과 공중 보건 분야에서 20년 이상의 경험을 쌓았으며, 임상, 기업 및 정책 분야에서의 전문성을 가지고 있습니다. 그녀의 임명은 노바백스가 연구 및 개발 중심의 조직으로 전환하면서 확장된 파이프라인을 갖추게 되는 시점에 이루어졌습니다.
드라기아-악클리 박사의 이전 직책에는 존슨앤드존슨의 글로벌 공공 보건 연구개발 책임자 및 머크의 글로벌 백신 부사장이 포함됩니다. 그녀는 또한 유럽연합과 연구 및 혁신 문제에 대해 협력해 왔습니다. 대규모 제약회사와 소규모 바이오텍에서의 경험이 노바백스의 포트폴리오와 과학 기술의 잠재력, 특히 Matrix-M™ 보조제를 전략적으로 평가하는 데 유용할 것으로 기대됩니다.
Novavax (Nasdaq: NVAX) a annoncé que Dr. Ruxandra Draghia-Akli rejoindra l'entreprise en novembre 2024 en tant que Vice-Présidente Exécutive et Responsable de la Recherche et Développement. Le Dr. Draghia-Akli a plus de 20 ans d'expérience dans le domaine des vaccins et de la santé publique, avec une expertise en matière de travaux cliniques, d'entreprise et de politique. Son nomination intervient alors que Novavax se transforme en une organisation axée sur la R&D avec un pipeline élargi.
Les précédents postes du Dr. Draghia-Akli incluent Responsable Mondiale de la R&D en Santé Publique chez Johnson & Johnson et Vice-Présidente des Vaccins Mondiaux chez Merck. Elle a également travaillé avec la Commission Européenne sur des questions de recherche et d'innovation. Son expérience dans de grandes entreprises pharmaceutiques et de petites biotechs devrait être précieuse pour évaluer stratégiquement le portefeuille de Novavax et le potentiel de sa technologie scientifique, y compris l'adjuvant Matrix-M™.
Novavax (Nasdaq: NVAX) gab bekannt, dass Dr. Ruxandra Draghia-Akli im November 2024 als Executive Vice President und Leiterin der Forschung und Entwicklung zum Unternehmen stoßen wird. Dr. Draghia-Akli bringt über 20 Jahre Erfahrung im Bereich Impfstoffe und öffentliche Gesundheit mit, mit Fachkenntnissen in klinischen, unternehmerischen und politischen Tätigkeiten. Ihre Ernennung erfolgt, während Novavax sich zu einer auf Forschung und Entwicklung fokussierten Organisation mit einem erweiterten Portfolio entwickelt.
Dr. Draghia-Akli hatte zuvor die Rolle der Global Head of Global Public Health R&D bei Johnson & Johnson und die Position der Vice President of Global Vaccines bei Merck inne. Sie hat außerdem mit der Europäischen Kommission zu Forschungs- und Innovationsfragen zusammengearbeitet. Ihre Erfahrung in großen Pharmaunternehmen und kleineren Biotech-Unternehmen wird voraussichtlich wertvoll sein, um Novavax' Portfolio strategisch zu bewerten und das Potenzial ihrer wissenschaftlichen Technologie, einschließlich des Matrix-M™-Adjuvans, zu beurteilen.
- Appointment of experienced R&D leader with 20+ years in vaccines and public health
- Transition to R&D-focused organization with expanded pipeline
- Potential for strategic evaluation and expansion of Novavax's portfolio beyond COVID-19
- Dr. Draghia-Akli's expertise in both large pharma and biotech companies
- None.
- Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, MD, PhD brings more than 20 years of extensive clinical, corporate and global public health expertise to support Novavax's transition to an R&D-focused organization
- Dr. Draghia-Akli will be integral in strategically evaluating the Company's pipeline and opportunities for its Matrix-M™ adjuvant and protein-based technology platform
Dr. Draghia-Akli brings more than 20 years of experience in vaccines and public health to Novavax. Her blend of expertise includes clinical, corporate and policy work and is inclusive of deep relationships both inside and outside the industry. Dr. Draghia-Akli's ability to identify real public health needs and find the intersection with Novavax's unique technology will be critical as the Company transitions to an R&D focus with a new, expanded pipeline that is focused on building partnerships with industry and public health organizations.
"Ruxandra brings an incredible breadth of expertise to our Executive Leadership team and with her at the helm of our scientific team, Novavax is well-positioned to develop and execute against a new, expanded R&D strategy," said John C. Jacobs, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax. "Ruxandra is the right R&D leader for Novavax at this critical time, and we are confident that she can strategically evaluate both our portfolio and the potential of our scientific technology in partnership with our already strong scientific and clinical development teams."
Dr. Draghia-Akli has experience in both established pharmaceutical and smaller biotechnology companies. She most recently served as Global Head of Global Public Health R&D at Johnson & Johnson where she spearheaded initiatives to accelerate drug discovery and development across several disease areas, including Dengue, tuberculosis, leprosy and coronaviruses. Previously, Dr. Draghia-Akli also served as Vice President, Global Vaccines at Merck where she contributed to advancing innovative vaccines against Ebola, pneumococcal disease and human papilloma virus. She also worked with the European Commission supporting programmatic, legislative, regulatory and policy issues in research and innovation. She also held roles of increasing responsibility and was responsible for securing start-up funding and grants at Advisys, Inc. (now a part of Inovio Pharmaceuticals). Dr. Draghia-Akli focused on research early in her career at Baylor College of Medicine, University Rene Descartes (
"I'm excited to join Novavax at such a pivotal time to lead R&D efforts as we set the Company up to successfully build upon and deliver an exciting clinical pipeline," said Dr. Draghia-Akli. "There is tremendous potential in Novavax's scientific platform and Matrix-M™ technology, and I'm looking forward to working with the team to expand beyond COVID-19 and push the boundaries of what the Company's technology can do to improve public health."
Dr. Draghia-Akli has served on numerous boards and committees over her career to help shape thinking on vaccine and public health issues. Currently, she is part of the 100 Days Mission, Science and Technology Expert Group of the International Pandemic Preparedness Secretariat; the Chair, Scientific Advisory Board of INTREPID Alliance; and the Chair, Scientific Advisory Board of Every Cure. Dr. Draghia-Akli received a BS in mathematics and physics from I.L. Caragiale Lycée; an MD from University Carol Davilla; and a PhD in human genetics from University Carol Davilla.
Dr. Draghia-Akli's predecessor, Filip Dubovsky, MD MPH, retired from the Company in July 2024 and will continue in his Executive Advisor role. Robert Walker, MD, will continue to lead the Novavax Medical Organization as Chief Medical Officer after serving as interim Head of R&D.
About Novavax
Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX) promotes improved health by discovering, developing and commercializing innovative vaccines to help protect against serious infectious diseases. Novavax, a global company based in
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements herein relating to the future of Novavax, its operating plans and prospects, its expectations regarding its clinical pipeline and research and development efforts, are forward-looking statements. Novavax cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, antigenic drift or shift in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, challenges satisfying, alone or together with partners, various safety, efficacy and product characterization requirements, including those related to process qualification and assay validation, necessary to satisfy applicable regulatory authorities; difficulty obtaining scarce raw materials and supplies; resource constraints, including human capital and manufacturing capacity, on the ability of Novavax to pursue planned regulatory pathways; challenges or delays in obtaining regulatory authorization for a JN.1 protein-based COVID-19 vaccine or for future COVID-19 variant strain changes; challenges or delays in clinical trials; manufacturing, distribution or export delays or challenges; Novavax's exclusive dependence on Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. for co-formulation and filling and the impact of any delays or disruptions in their operations on the delivery of customer orders; and those other risk factors identified in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of Novavax's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this press release. You are encouraged to read our filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov and www.novavax.com, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this document, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of the statements. Our business is subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, including those referenced above. Investors, potential investors, and others should give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties.
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