Adagio Therapeutics Appoints David Hering, Global COVID-19 Vaccine Expert, as Chief Operating Officer
July 19, 2021WALTHAM, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Adagio Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company developing highly differentiated antibodies to broadly neutralize coronaviruses, today announced that David Hering has been appointed as the company’s chief operating officer. Mr. Hering joins Adagio from Pfizer, where he most recently served as the global mRNA business lead, a business specifically created to optimize management of COVID-19 efforts, and led the launch of the first-ever COVID-19 vaccines worldwide.
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome David to the team, who brings to Adagio unparalleled experience and insights, having led the preparation and launch of the very first vaccine for COVID-19, and its rollout in the U.S. and worldwide,” said Tillman Gerngross, Ph.D., co-founder and chief executive officer of Adagio. “COVID-19 remains a global challenge, with new life-threatening variants continuously emerging, which we are committed to combatting with our ADG20 product candidate, if approved, as both a treatment and a prophylactic for the virus. Given the substantial opportunity that we believe ADG20 has, as well as other novel antibody programs in our pipeline, it’s crucial that we continue to build out the team to support our advancement through the clinic and to prepare for anticipated commercialization of ADG20, so that we may benefit as many people as we can.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented global disaster that no one was prepared for, but for which pioneers in the pharmaceutical industry have stepped up in meaningful ways to address. Adagio is one of those companies, and I have been impressed by its strategy to create and efficiently advance broadly neutralizing antibodies that not only hold the potential to address today’s pandemic and emerging variants, but future pandemics as well,” said Mr. Hering. “I have spent the last year and half fully immersed in how COVID-19 has affected the world with a singular focus on reducing the impact and risk that the virus has on people’s lives. I am thrilled to be able to bring these insights to Adagio and to work alongside this exceptional team as we advance medicines that are needed by millions of people.”
David Hering is a seasoned life sciences leader who brings more than 25 years of experience creating and growing value for companies within the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry. Mr. Hering has spent much of his career leading functions within vaccine franchises at some of the top pharmaceutical companies. Prior to his most recent role at Pfizer, Mr. Hering was president, North America at Pfizer, where he led a 700-person organization across a portfolio of vaccine products in COVID-19 and meningococcal and pneumococcal diseases. Before Pfizer, he held a number of roles of increasing responsibility at Novartis Vaccines, most recently as head of North America where he led an organization responsible for a portfolio of four vaccine products in meningitis and travel. Earlier, he was a consultant for Keystone Strategy, advising clients within the biotech industry, and held manufacturing-focused roles at Merck & Co., Inc. Mr. Hering holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and B.S. in operations research and industrial engineering from Cornell University.
About Adagio Therapeutics
Adagio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of antibody-based solutions for infectious diseases with pandemic potential. The company’s portfolio of antibodies has been optimized using Adimab’s industry-leading antibody engineering capabilities and is designed to provide patients and clinicians with a powerful combination of potency, breadth, durable protection (via half-life extension), manufacturability and affordability. Adagio’s portfolio of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies includes multiple, non-competing broadly neutralizing antibodies with distinct binding epitopes, led by ADG20. Adagio has secured manufacturing capacity for the production of ADG20 with third-party contract manufacturers through the completion of clinical trials and, if approved by regulatory authorities, through initial commercial launch. For more information, please visit www.adagiotx.com.
Contacts
Media Contact:
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Investor Contact:
Monique Allaire, THRUST Strategic Communications
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