Michel Vounatsos

CEO, Biogen

Search every verified Michel Vounatsos interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Michel Vounatsos, CEO of Biogen, has been a central figure in discussions around the company's Alzheimer's disease drug aducanumab. Following the FDA's approval of the drug in June 2021, Vounatsos described it as a "historic day" and said it provided "hope finally for the patients and families" after nearly two decades without a new treatment for the disease. He noted that the accelerated approval pathway is a well-established process used by the FDA and stated that the company is committed to continuing to study the product. In earlier appearances, Vounatsos discussed the company's decision to seek FDA approval for the drug after initially discontinuing trials, attributing the reversal to new data showing that a "sufficient and sustained high dose" of the drug could remove amyloid plaques. Vounatsos has also spoken about Biogen's environmental initiatives, announcing a 20-year plan called "Healthy Climate Healthy Lives" with a goal of eliminating fossil fuel emissions by 2040. He stated that "the pharma industry... can't lead in health without reducing our operational impact on the planet" and argued that climate solutions should also promote human health. On drug pricing, Vounatsos has called for the industry to be proactive, suggesting the adoption of innovative contracts that require payers to share risk, and has said Biogen aims to be the "Tesla" of the drug pricing model. He has also expressed a vision for a shift toward personalized medicine and preventative care, and identified neurodegenerative diseases as a priority area for the company.