Voyager Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: VYGR) today announced the appointment of Beth Shafer, Ph.D., M.A., M.Phil., as their new Chief Business Officer (CBO). Shafer brings more than 15 years of invaluable experience in corporate and business development from prominent biopharmaceutical companies to the firm.
With an intricately deep knowledge in neurology, she has come to the firm after most recently serving as Vice President and Head of R&D Business Development, Gastrointestinal & Inflammation, Neuroscience, Drug Discovery Sciences, Externalizations at Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. A highly valued addition to the team, Shafer is set to break through barriers in gene therapy and neurology with her expertise.
Voyager is excited to welcome Beth Peters to its leadership team as Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Planning. Her arrival is timed perfectly with the strong interest that has been sparked in Voyager’s TRACER™ capsid platform and neurology programs. Alfred W. Sandrock, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Voyager, remarked excitedly that Beth has an impressive track record and that Voyager is eager to benefit from her valuable insights to create optimal value for both patients and shareholders alike.
With over two decades experience at some of the most prestigious biopharmaceutical companies, Marissa Shafer has been making waves in the industry. Her impressive career started with a Ph.D in Neuroscience from University of California, San Diego, and M.Phil and M.A from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and B.A from Rutgers University. Most recently, her roles at Takeda involved leading business development groups and activities in multiple areas and she achieved success in externalizing their R&D pipeline, and busy licensing and collaborations that resulted in a diversified neuroscience portfolio.
Prior to Takeda, Marissa served as Head, Ophthalmology and Disease Area X Business Development and Licensing for Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research and, before that, Director of Business Development and Licensing for Roche, where she crafted the business development process for the external development group and was integral to strategy and deal execution for different therapeutic areas. With such impressive leadership and achievements, Marissa Shafer is certainly a force to be reckoned with in the world of biopharmaceuticals.
I am thrilled to join the Voyager team and combine my knowledge in neuroscience with my enthusiasm for advancing scientific innovation. I am eager to use my business and strategy experience to help the company reach its goal of developing life-changing genetic medicines for neurological diseases, including modalities with the potential to bring transformation to affected patients.
About Voyager Therapeutics
Voyager Therapeutics is aiming to create groundbreaking progress in gene therapy and neurology, using delivery solutions to the hindered potential of these disciplines. Its TRACER AAV platform has created a unique collection of capsids, with high effectiveness and low-dosage for enhanced blood-brain barrier penetration, a vast improvement from traditional gene therapy delivery systems.
Voyager has established partnerships with a number of leading health companies such as Pfizer, Novartis Pharma, Neurocrine Biosciences, and Sangamo Therapeutics to maximize its potential. Its own pipeline has earned a focus in diseases affecting the central nervous system, and targets vital biomarkers to expedite its path to success.
Forward-Looking Statements
Voyager is excited to announce the addition of experienced industry leader Cheryl Shafer to its team – with the expectation that she will help to maximize opportunities for value creation for patients and its shareholders. With Shafer at the helm, the future looks bright for Voyager as it continues to develop its platform technology and pipeline programs.
Although the expected results are promising, Voyager’s management cautions that outcomes are inherently uncertain. All prospective results are subject to the company’s risks and uncertainties, which are outlined in Voyager’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. With Shafer’s wealth of knowledge and experience, Voyager is confident that it will reach its goals and continue to create lasting value for its stakeholders.