Sana Biotechnology adds former Biogen exec Doug Williams to lead R&D

Sana Biotechnology added two senior leaders to its research and development (R&D) team, including Doug Williams as president of R&D and Gary Meininger as chief medical officer. 

As part of the personnel moves, Meininger will replace Sana’s current chief medical officer, Sunil Agarwal.

A pharma veteran, Williams joins Sana following leadership stints at Biogen, where he was EVP of R&D for four years, ZymoGenetics, Amgen and Immunex. Most recently, he served as CEO at Codiak BioSciences. 

The appointments come as Sana is aiming to reposition itself as a clinical-stage biotech, pivoting from its beginnings as a research-based organization. In January, the company received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration for its first investigational new drug (IND) application for SC291. This is a CD19-targeted allogeneic CAR T cell therapy that was developed with Sana’s hypoimmune platform and targets B-cell lymphoma and leukemias.

The company said it expects initial clinical data on SC291 later this year.

“We are making rapid progress in transitioning from a research-based company to one focused on delivering innovative gene and cell-based medicines to patients across multiple disease areas,” Sana CEO Steve Harr said in a statement. “These accomplished and experienced leaders are recognized innovators in their respective areas of expertise, and together we believe they will strengthen our strategies, execution and teams.”

Meininger, who has held roles in drug development leadership for 20 years, comes to Sana after working at Vertex as well as at Janssen and Merck. Meininger is also currently the industry representative to the FDA’s endocrine and metabolic drug advisory committee.

At Sana, Meininger will initially focus on the company’s oncology pipeline, Harr noted, which includes advancing SC291.

Sana is also planning to submit INDs for two other cancer drugs – SC262 for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia – and SG299.

The focus on oncology drugs comes after Sana laid off 15% of its staff in November and announced a portfolio reprioritization. 

At the time, Sana said it was halting work on SC187, its program for heart failure, and that the layoffs would give the company the “expected runway to invest in its key clinical programs over the next several years.”

Sana EVP, head of development and chief medical officer Sunil Agarwal will stay on to help the transition before leaving. In a statement, Harr noted “Sunil has been a partner in defining the company strategy and hiring top talent into the company, and we wish him much success in his next endeavor.”Sana Biotechnology added two senior leaders to its research and development (R&D) team, including Doug Williams as president of R&D and Gary Meininger as chief medical officer. 

As part of the personnel moves, Meininger will replace Sana’s current chief medical officer, Sunil Agarwal.

A pharma veteran, Williams joins Sana following leadership stints at Biogen, where he was EVP of R&D for four years, ZymoGenetics, Amgen and Immunex. Most recently, he served as CEO at Codiak BioSciences. 

The appointments come as Sana is aiming to reposition itself as a clinical-stage biotech, pivoting from its beginnings as a research-based organization. In January, the company received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration for its first investigational new drug (IND) application for SC291. This is a CD19-targeted allogeneic CAR T cell therapy that was developed with Sana’s hypoimmune platform and targets B-cell lymphoma and leukemias.

The company said it expects initial clinical data on SC291 later this year.

“We are making rapid progress in transitioning from a research-based company to one focused on delivering innovative gene and cell-based medicines to patients across multiple disease areas,” Sana CEO Steve Harr said in a statement. “These accomplished and experienced leaders are recognized innovators in their respective areas of expertise, and together we believe they will strengthen our strategies, execution and teams.”

Meininger, who has held roles in drug development leadership for 20 years, comes to Sana after working at Vertex as well as at Janssen and Merck. Meininger is also currently the industry representative to the FDA’s endocrine and metabolic drug advisory committee.

At Sana, Meininger will initially focus on the company’s oncology pipeline, Harr noted, which includes advancing SC291.

Sana is also planning to submit INDs for two other cancer drugs — SC262 for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia — and SG299.

The focus on oncology drugs comes after Sana laid off 15% of its staff in November and announced a portfolio reprioritization. 

At the time, Sana said it was halting work on SC187, its program for heart failure, and that the layoffs would give the company the “expected runway to invest in its key clinical programs over the next several years.”

Sana EVP, head of development and chief medical officer Sunil Agarwal will stay on to help the transition before leaving. In a statement, Harr noted “Sunil has been a partner in defining the company strategy and hiring top talent into the company, and we wish him much success in his next endeavor.”