Ionis Pharma's Chief Development Officer to Retire

By Ahmed Jameison • Thursday, June 12 15:19 • Permanent Link

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: IONS) recently announced the retirement of Dr. Richard Geary, the current Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer, effective January 2026. In his 30-year tenure, Dr. Geary spearheaded numerous development programs, leading to the successful regulatory approvals of six innovative medicines, including TryngolzaTM, the company's first independent commercial medicine.

Under Dr. Geary's leadership, Ionis submitted over 50 investigational new drug applications to regulatory agencies and achieved six FDA and EU approvals. He will continue to support the company as a strategic consultant throughout 2026 to facilitate a seamless transition.

Taking over Dr. Geary's role in January 2026 is Dr. Holly Kordasiewicz, who currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Neurology at Ionis. With 20 years of experience in research and development, Dr. Kordasiewicz has been instrumental in overseeing Ionis' industry-leading neurology program, which includes medicines for various neurological conditions such as Alexander disease, Angelman syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, prion disease, and multiple system atrophy.

Dr. Kordasiewicz has also played a vital role in the discovery and development of Ionis' biogen-partnered programs, including Qalsody® (tofersen) for a genetic form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Ionis-MAPTRx (BIIB080), a promising Alzheimer's disease medicine in phase 2 development.

The company expressed gratitude for Dr. Geary's contributions and expressed confidence in Dr. Kordasiewicz's ability to lead Ionis' portfolio, which includes eight wholly owned neurology medicines in clinical development.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has been a pioneer in inventing medicines for serious diseases for the past three decades. The company currently has six marketed medicines and a leading pipeline in neurology, cardiology, and other areas of high patient need. Their focus on RNA-targeted medicines and gene editing underscores their commitment to delivering life-changing advances for patients. Today the company's shares have moved -1.76% to a price of $36.19. If you want to know more, read the company's complete 8-K report here.

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