Marianne Backer

Bio:

Marianne De Backer, M.Sc., Ph.D., MBA, is an accomplished biopharmaceutical leader serving as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Vir Biotechnology. Since joining Vir Bio in April 2023, Dr. De Backer has led the company through a transformative strategic evolution, sharpening the company’s focus in infectious diseases and spearheading innovation to address critical unmet needs in oncology. Under her visionary leadership, Vir Bio’s pipeline has advanced significantly, and the company’s late-stage registrational program for hepatitis delta and three dual-masked T-cell engagers targeting a variety of solid tumors are poised to deliver transformative benefit for patients. The company also applies its world-class immunology expertise and leading data science capabilities to rapidly advance a research pipeline in service of its mission to power the immune system to transform lives. During Dr. De Backer’s extensive career she has spearheaded the growth of therapeutic portfolios and played a pivotal role in bringing important new therapeutics to patients worldwide. A respected voice in life sciences, Dr. De Backer serves on the Board of Directors for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and as a Non-Executive Director for the Gladstone Foundation. With her unique blend of scientific, strategic, and operational expertise, Dr. De Backer offers invaluable insights at the forefront of healthcare innovation and leadership.