George A. Scangos
NationalityAmerican
Alma materCornell University, University of Massachusetts
Scientific career
FieldsBiotechnology
InstitutionsJohns Hopkins University, Biogen
Doctoral advisorAlbey Reiner
Other academic advisorsFrank Ruddle

George A. Scangos was a pharmaceutical executive and former chief executive officer of Vir Biotechnology from 2017 to 2023. Scangos was previously the chief executive officer of Biogen from 2010 to 2016 and of Exelixis from 1996 to 2010.[1][2] Prior to joining industry, Scangos was a professor of biology at Johns Hopkins University.[3][4]

Education

He has a BA in biology from Cornell University in 1991. He worked briefly as a lab technician at MIT and then became a sales rep for a lab supply company. Trying to get into a graduate school, he drove out to University of Massachusetts and despite never taking a microbiology course, ended up with a PhD in microbiology from the University of Massachusetts with Albey Reiner in 1977.[5] He then did his postdoctoral fellowship with Frank Ruddle at Yale University where they created the first transgenic mouse.[6]

Career

He was a professor of biology at Johns Hopkins University for six years before taking a sabbatical to join Molecular Diagnostics which was co-founded by Ruddle. Molecular Diagnostics and Molecular Therapeutics were acquired by Bayer and he was recruited to Bayer Biotechnology to expand their labs in 1989. With Bayer, he would lead the development of Factor VIII (medication) at the Berkeley, California campus[3][7][4]

In 1996, Scangos joined Exelixis and took the company public and was responsible for building its cancer pipeline and setting up multiple partnerships. Exelixix would move to California and move into small molecule discovery and development.[4] He was named CEO of Biogen Idec during the strategic battle with Carl Icahn and made a number of major changes in the direction of the company including closing down the San Diego site, moving headquarters back to Cambridge and dropping the old Idec name. This also including the pivot from oncology research to risky pipeline projects in neurology and hematology including the development of drugs for multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's like aducanumab.[8][7][9][10] Scangos was named CEO during the launch of Vir. He would serve as the chair of PhRMA in 2016 and was the lead of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization's response to COVID-19.[11][12][13]

Personal life

Scangos grew up in Lynn, Massachusetts and is of Greek descent. His father was an accountant at Exxon. His grandparents came to the US from Greece.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Fidler, Ben (January 25, 2023). "Veteran biotech leader George Scangos to step down as Vir CEO". BioPharma Dive. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  2. ↑ "George Scangos". www.bizjournals.com.
  3. 1 2 "Biogen Idec Names George Scangos Chief Executive Officer". Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Ribbink, Kim (March 25, 2009). "Dr. George Scangos: Gene Excellence". PharmaVoice. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  5. ↑ Scangos, Georg A.; Reiner, Albey Mahesh (March 1, 1979). "A unique pattern of toxic synthesis in pentitol catabolism: Implications for evolution". Journal of Molecular Evolution. 12 (3): 189–195. doi:10.1007/BF01732338.
  6. ↑ Gordon, J W; Scangos, G A; Plotkin, D J; Barbosa, J A; Ruddle, F H (December 1980). "Genetic transformation of mouse embryos by microinjection of purified DNA". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 77 (12): 7380–7384. doi:10.1073/pnas.77.12.7380. PMC 350507.
  7. 1 2 Timmerman, Luke (August 31, 2011). "George Scangos, the Boy From Working Class Boston, on His Road Back to Lead Biogen Idec". Xconomy Boston. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  8. ↑ Fidler, Ben (July 21, 2016). "With Biogen at a Crossroads, CEO Scangos to Step Down | Xconomy". Xconomy Boston. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  9. ↑ Mitchell, Peter (January 1, 2011). "Biogen Idec restructures, sharpens neurology focus". Nature Biotechnology. 29 (1): 7–8. doi:10.1038/nbt0111-7. PMID 21221080.
  10. ↑ Timmerman, Luke (June 16, 2011). "Biogen Idec CEO on Move Back to Cambridge: "We're Working on It"". Xconomy Boston. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Vir Biotechnology Announces Retirement of CEO George Scangos, Ph.D.; Appoints Marianne De Backer, MSc, Ph.D., MBA, as Successor". BioSpace. January 25, 2023.
  12. 1 2 Kampouris, Nick (March 9, 2020). "Greek-American Scientist Heads Global Campaign for Coronavirus Treatment". Greek Reporter. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  13. ↑ Mast, Jason (January 25, 2023). "Vir CEO George Scangos to retire, after pandemic success". STAT.
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