AskBio, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, revealed today that Mansuo Shannon, PhD, has been appointed as its new Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), effective April 8, 2024. Shannon, who previously held the position of CSO at Prevail Therapeutics, will report directly to Gustavo Pesquin, CEO of AskBio, and will become a key member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team, overseeing its Research and Development (R&D) sector.
Shannon takes over from R. Jude Samulski, PhD, one of the company’s co-founders, who has served as CSO since AskBio’s inception in 2001. Samulski will transition to a role on the AskBio Board of Directors, continuing to contribute his expertise to the company’s scientific endeavors after more than two decades of dedication.
Gustavo Pesquin expressed his enthusiasm about Shannon’s appointment, citing her extensive experience in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, particularly in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. He believes Shannon’s background will significantly contribute to AskBio’s mission of advancing gene therapy to address diseases lacking effective treatments.
Shannon brings over 16 years of industry experience, with expertise spanning small and large molecules, gene therapy, and gene editing. During her tenure at Prevail Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, she led strategic initiatives and managed a substantial product portfolio. Prior to Prevail, Shannon spent nearly a decade at Eli Lilly, where she led programs focused on developing innovative therapies for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Earlier in her career, she held significant scientific positions at Chugai Pharmaceuticals/Roche Group and Merck.
Shannon holds a PhD in Molecular Biology from Princeton University and completed her post-doctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) under the guidance of Nobel Laureate Susumu Tonegawa, PhD.
In her new role as CSO at AskBio, Shannon will be responsible for crafting and executing the company’s R&D strategy. She will lead the global teams dedicated to advancing AskBio’s gene therapy platform and will provide scientific leadership to the company’s leadership team, the Board of Directors, and Bayer’s R&D community.
Shannon expressed her excitement about joining AskBio, emphasizing her eagerness to collaborate with the company’s leadership and scientists to drive forward transformative gene therapies. She aims to leverage her expertise to propel AskBio’s R&D efforts and contribute to addressing some of the world’s most challenging diseases.
