Biogen Appoints Dr Maria C. Freire As New Chair Of The Board, Succeeding Caroline Dorsa, Following The 2026 Annual Meeting

Biogen Inc. has announced that its Board of Directors has elected Dr. Maria C. Freire as Chair of the Board, effective immediately following the company’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled for June 9, 2026. She will succeed Caroline Dorsa, who has chosen to retire and will not stand for reelection. Dr Freire has served on Biogen’s Board since 2021 and currently sits on both the Corporate Governance Committee and the Compensation and Management Development Committee.

Ms. Dorsa said: “It has been an honor to serve on the Board of Biogen for the past sixteen years. I am proud of the groundbreaking science and innovative medicines the Company has pioneered. I want to extend my gratitude to Chris Viehbacher, Biogen's CEO, for his strong collaboration and partnership. Under Chris' leadership and renewed focus on value creation and sustainable growth, Biogen's portfolio has transformed while continuing to deliver first-in-class therapies. With multiple opportunities ahead, we are at a pivotal moment for the Company, and I believe this is the right time for new Board leadership. As I step down, I am confident that the Board will thrive under Maria's leadership and will continue to collaborate effectively with Chris and the Management team.”

Dr. Freire brings decades of experience in biomedical innovation, drug development, science policy, and public–private partnerships. Her career spans biotechnology, global health, and life sciences infrastructure, with a strong emphasis on patient-focused outcomes and long-term value creation. She is the Founder and Principal of The Freire Group, a strategic advisory firm supporting life sciences organisations, and also serves on the boards of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Exelixis, and Keystone Symposia. She is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Ms. Dorsa added: “Maria is a highly respected and appreciated member of the Board and a member of the Corporate Governance Committee and the Compensation and Management Development Committee. She will continue to guide Biogen into its next growth chapter and to support the advancement of the Company’s renewed pipeline. Her extensive scientific background, encompassing early research into commercialization, along with her deep understanding of public health and policy challenges, has proven invaluable since she joined the Biogen Board.”

Previously, Dr. Freire led the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) as President and Executive Director, overseeing major public–private partnerships in oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. She also served as President and CEO of the TB Alliance, where she advanced multiple drug candidates through development, including pretomanid, now approved for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Earlier leadership roles include serving as President of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation and as Director of the Office of Technology Transfer at the NIH.

Dr. Freire said: "It is a great privilege to succeed Caroline with whom I have worked closely since 2021. The Board has undergone significant changes under her leadership, and I look forward to continuing collaboration with my fellow Board members and the Management team to further advance Biogen's mission. With my in-depth knowledge of the Company and its strategy, I am excited about the opportunities ahead. We are embarking on a new chapter for Biogen, having established a robust foundation for sustainable growth and entering a catalyst-rich period with several readouts in the next 18 months, including potentially enabling filing in lupus and nephrology.”

Her distinguished public service includes chairing the FDA Science Board, serving on the WHO Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health, and participating in the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines. Dr. Freire holds a Ph.D. in Biophysics from the University of Virginia and a B.S. from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Peru.

Christopher A. Viehbacher, President and Chief Executive Officer of Biogen, said: "I would like to thank Caroline on behalf of the entire Biogen team for her visionary leadership in driving innovation and creating shareholder value as Chair of our Board of Directors, as Past-Chair of the Audit Committee and as a Board member. During her tenure as Chair of the Board, Caroline fostered a culture of rigor, transparency and trust. I would like to express my gratitude to Caroline for being always available and for her counsel and guidance. With Maria’s broad expertise in science and drug development, she is a natural successor to Caroline, bringing important perspective at this pivotal time for Biogen. I look forward to continuing to work with her and the rest of the Board to advance our long-term growth strategy.”