Biogen CEO to Step Down, Drugmaker Pulls Back on Alzheimer’s Drug Aduhelm

Biogen CEO to Step Down, Drugmaker Pulls Back on Alzheimer’s Drug Aduhelm
A test tube in front of displayed Biogen logo in this illustration taken, on Dec. 1, 2021. Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

Biogen Inc said on Tuesday that Chief Executive Michel Vounatsos will step down and that the company is pulling back on selling its Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm after the U.S. government’s Medicare program restricted coverage of the controversial treatment to patients in clinical trials.

Vounatsos, who was named as the CEO in 2016, will continue in his role until a successor is appointed, the company said. Under his leadership, the U.S. biotech developed and launched several important growth drivers including spinal muscular atrophy drug Spinraza and multiple sclerosis drug Vumerity.