Cell therapy specialist Legend Biotech has announced the abrupt departure of its CEO, while Sarepta has revealed its new leader after a long-planned transition, marking two contrasting approaches at the two advanced therapy biotechs.
Legend’s Ying Huang told the board of directors he was resigning from his position as CEO on 24 July. As per a filing published on 27 July, the biotech stated that the sudden departure “was not the result of any disagreement with the company on any matter relating to the company’s operations, policies or practices or the company’s financial statements or internal controls over financial reporting”.
In a statement, Huang said: “It has been an honour to lead this company and work alongside such a dedicated team. Together, we helped advance cell therapy and expand treatment options for people living with multiple myeloma…I leave with deep confidence in the future of Legend Biotech.”
A search is underway for a new leader, with Alan Bash – current president of Legend’s Carvykti Business Unit – as interim CEO.
Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel), a personalised CAR-T cell immunotherapy used to treat multiple myeloma, is Legend’s only approved therapy. Co-developed and co-commercialised with Johnson & Johnson (J&J), the cell therapy has already reached blockbuster status, reflecting its strong commercial performance.
In recent years, several rivals have emerged to provide competition to the brand, most notably Gilead and Arcellx’s anito-cel. There have also been concerns from US lawmakers regarding Legend’s ties with China. The biotech’s former Chinese parent company, GenScript Biotech Corporation, is accused of having influence from the Chinese Communist Party, according to US intelligence bodies.
In a statement, Bash said: “The opportunities ahead for Legend are significant. We have a differentiated commercial therapy, a promising pipeline, a talented leadership team, and a strategy that remains firmly in place. Most importantly, we have teams around the world who show up every day with the determination to turn scientific innovation into meaningful outcomes for patients and families.
“At moments like this, continuity matters. Patients, partners, employees, and shareholders can expect us to remain focused on execution and on advancing the work already underway.”
Sarepta chooses ex-AbbVie President
Unlike Legend’s change at the helm, Sarepta’s CEO switch has been expected for a while. Speaking in an investor call on 25 February, Doug Ingram announced he was leaving Sarepta after a decade at the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) developer. Ingram is retiring for personal reasons, with two members of his family being diagnosed with myotonic dystrophy in what he called a “shocking and certainly ironic twist of fate”.
