Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX) today announced that James Young, PhD, is retiring as Chair of the Board and Margaret McGlynn, RPh, has been appointed as his successor. The Company also appointed John Shiver, PhD, to its board as an independent director.
Dr. Young made the decision to resign from the board effective March 10, 2025. He has served on Novavax's board since 2010 and as Chair since 2011. During his tenure, the Company acquired Isconova and the Matrix-M™ adjuvant, now a key component of its technology platform. Novavax also earned global approvals for and commercialized its first vaccine ever for COVID-19, ramping up quickly to meet the demands of the global pandemic. Dr. Young helped to guide the Company through the partnership with Sanofi in 2024 and the subsequent transformative focus on a new corporate growth strategy to maximize the impact of Novavax's cutting-edge technology by focusing on strategic partnerships for its research and development (R&D) assets and its Matrix-M™ adjuvant.
"We'll forever be grateful for Jim's leadership during such critical moments for Novavax over the past 15 years," said John C. Jacobs, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax. "With the solid foundation he helped build, we look forward to advancing our corporate growth strategy with Margie at the helm of the board, and now with John's guidance as well. Both Margie and John bring a wealth of experience and under the collective leadership of all of our board members, we are well-positioned to deliver for our shareholders."
Ms. McGlynn has served on Novavax's board of directors since 2020. She previously served as President, Merck Vaccines and Infectious Disease, and after 26 years at Merck, served as CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. She also serves on the board of directors of Amicus Therapeutics and University at Buffalo Foundation.
"Thanks to Jim's leadership, Novavax is primed to deliver against an exciting new pipeline through strategic collaborations," said Ms. McGlynn. "I look forward to working with this immensely talented board and executive leadership team to support Novavax as it moves into a position of strength over the coming years."
Dr. Shiver has more than 30 years of vaccine, biologics and RNA therapeutics experience in pharmaceutical research and development. He has led teams of scientists to develop novel vaccine and monoclonal antibody candidates to prevent or treat more than 40 infectious and non-infectious diseases. Dr. Shiver has also created a machine learning/artificial intelligence group to help design new vaccine candidates. He has served on multiple scientific advisory boards and committees including the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative Board of Directors and the Board of Directors for Icosavax, Auravax and Calder Biosciences. Dr. Shiver is a Special Advisor to F Prime Capital and serves as Head of R&D and an Observer of the board of directors at Vibrant Biomedicines. His past experience includes roles at IGM ID, Sanofi Pasteur, Merck and the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Shiver holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Mathematics from Wofford College and a Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Chemistry from the University of Florida.
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