Leadership changes afoot at two CGT biotechs

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”.

After a five-month search, Sarepta has appointed pharma industry veteran Michael Severino as new CEO. Severino was previously CEO of fellow gene therapy biotech Tessera Therapeutics and also served as president of AbbVie, with Sarepta saying he brings “more than 25 years of biopharma experience”.

In a statement, Severino said: “Sarepta’s unwavering commitment to patients and science resonates deeply with me, and I was very encouraged by the long-term data supporting our approved products, and the pre-clinical and clinical data from the siRNA pipeline programs and the potential for best-in-class treatments. I look forward to working with my new colleagues at Sarepta to continue to serve the Duchenne community and expand our reach.”

Severino will be tasked with bringing Sarepta to a more stable footing. The biotech has endured a tumultuous past year amid safety and regulatory issues for its DMD gene therapy Elevidys (delandistrogene moxeparvovec). In July 2025, the company also announced a major restructuring plan, which included a 36% workforce reduction.

“Leadership changes afoot at two CGT biotechs” was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.