Biogen has announced that Alfred W. Sandrock, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., Head of Research & Development (R&D), will retire from the company, effective December 31, 2021.

During his 23 years at Biogen, Dr. Sandrock led the development of many of the company’s transformational therapies in neurological diseases, including Tysabri (natalizumab), Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate), Spinraza (nusinersen), Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) and Aduhelm (aducanumab-avwa).

Dr. Sandrock has served on Biogen’s Executive Committee since 2015, as Head of R&D since October 2019, and as Chief Medical Officer from 2012 to 2020.

Priya Singhal, M.D., M.P.H., Head of Global Safety and Regulatory Sciences, also with oversight responsibility for Japan and China R&D, will assume Dr. Sandrock’s duties as Head of R&D on an interim basis until a permanent successor is identified.

Source: Biogen