By Colin Kellaher


Voyager Therapeutics Inc. on Tuesday said it named former Biogen Inc. top researcher Alfred Sandrock as its new chief executive.

Dr. Sandrock, who retired at the end of 2021 as Biogen's head of research and development after leading the development of the company's controversial Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm, joined the Voyager board last month.

The Cambridge, Mass., gene-therapy company said Dr. Sandrock's "success pioneering the development of numerous innovative neurological treatments, and particularly, his skill in advancing promising candidates from early-stage research toward clinical proof of concept, is perfectly suited for Voyager."

Dr. Sandrock was admired by many inside Biogen for his talent for spotting promising new drug candidates and helping lead the charge to bring them to market. Three drugs he championed, Tysabri and Tecfidera for multiple sclerosis, and Spinraza for spinal muscular atrophy, are still blockbusters.

The sales outlook for Aduhelm, however, has diminished significantly since the drug was first approved last year, with health insurers balking at paying for it and many doctors unwilling to prescribe it.

Voyager said Michael Higgins, who served as interim CEO since Andre Turenne stepped down last June, will continue to serve as chairman.


--Joseph Walker contributed to this article.


Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

03-22-22 0742ET