Agios Pharmaceuticals adds Dr. Jay Backstrom to board of directors

Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AGIO) announced the appointment of Jay Backstrom, M.D., M.P.H., to its board of directors, effective immediately. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company specializes in cellular metabolism and pyruvate kinase activation therapies for rare diseases.

Dr. Backstrom brings experience from pharmaceutical companies of various sizes, including recent leadership roles at Scholar Rock, Acceleron Pharma, and Celgene Corporation. As president and chief executive officer of Scholar Rock, he led strategic pipeline reviews and advanced the company's spinal muscular atrophy program through Phase 3 development and regulatory filings in the U.S. and European Union.

During his tenure as executive vice president of research and development at Acceleron Pharma, the company was acquired by Merck in 2021. At Celgene Corporation, where he served as chief medical officer and head of global regulatory affairs, Dr. Backstrom contributed to clinical programs that received regulatory approvals in beta thalassemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.

"His deep scientific insight, extensive regulatory expertise, and strategic business leadership come at a pivotal time for Agios," said Brian Goff, chief executive officer of Agios, in a statement provided by the company.

Dr. Backstrom will serve on Agios' Science and Technology Committee. The company markets PYRUKYND (mitapivat), a pyruvate kinase activator for adults with PK deficiency, and maintains a clinical pipeline targeting conditions including alpha- and beta-thalassemia, sickle cell disease, and pediatric PK deficiency.

The information was disclosed in a company press release.

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