John Lepore

Bio:

John Lepore, M.D., is a physician-scientist and global pharmaceutical executive with more than two decades of experience advancing breakthrough science into transformative medicines. As CEO and President of ProFound Therapeutics and CEO-partner at Flagship Therapeutics, he is driving a new era of drug discovery by harnessing the expanding proteome to build a pipeline of first-in-class medicines.

Dr. Lepore joined ProFound after a 17-year career at GSK, where he held progressive R&D leadership roles spanning numerous therapeutic areas. He was most recently Senior Vice President, Head of Research at GSK, where he led a global team of over 2,500 scientists across target discovery and validation, modality platforms, drug discovery, and clinical translation. Under his leadership, GSK’s research strategy was restructured to focus on immunology and human genetics, resulting in a revitalized early pipeline with 15 Phase 1 assets with first- or best-in-class potential. He also led transformative research collaborations with 23andMe and the Broad Institute and played a central role in executing over $1 billion in strategic asset transactions that seeded multiple clinical programs. Earlier at GSK, he held a series of senior roles across drug discovery, drug development, and business development, including oversight of the R&D pipeline and therapeutic area units in cardiovascular, metabolic, neuroscience, respiratory, and rare diseases. At GSK, he chaired the Research Review Board and Research Investment Board, overseeing capital allocation and strategic project prioritization across pharma research.

Before joining GSK, Dr. Lepore served on the faculty in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Medicine, where he led an NIH- and foundation-funded research lab focused on gene regulation in cardiovascular development and practiced as an attending physician on the cardiology service.  

Dr. Lepore received his B.S. in Biology from the University of Scranton and his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He subsequently trained in internal medicine and cardiology and completed his postdoctoral training at the Harvard School of Public Health. 

Dr. Lepore has served on the Board of Directors of ViiV Healthcare, the Altius Institute, and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), and on the Scientific Advisory Boards of Medicxi Ventures and Hatteras Ventures. He is presently on the Board of Directors of ProFound Therapeutics and KSQ Therapeutics, and on the Innovation Growth Board of Mass General Brigham.