BOSTON– Vertex Pharmaceuticals CEO and President Reshma Kewalramani, M.D., FASN, who has dedicated her life and career to improve patients’ lives and their care, was honored with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award by INE Multimedia, a non-profit organization, in collaboration with INDIA New England News, at the annual New England Choice Awards Gala on Nov. 15, 2024. (Photos: Cocoon Media)
Over 400 entrepreneurs, corporate executives, philanthropists, educators, and community leaders attended the gala, which was held at Burlington Marriott Hotel in Burlington, MA.
John Sculley, one of America’s best-known business leaders, with one foot in the storied history of Apple technology and the other planted firmly in 21st century innovations that change the way the world does business, served as the Chief Guest at the gala.
MIT President Emerita Susan Hockfield, who has distinguished herself in a career spanning advanced scientific research and the presidency of one of the world’s premier institutions of science and engineering, and the Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio were the Guests of Honor at the New England Choice Awards.
In April 2020, Dr. Kewalramani, M.D., FASN, became the CEO & President of Vertex, a Fortune 500, global biotechnology company. She is the first female CEO of a major biotech company.
Dr. Kewalramani trained in internal medicine and nephrology before entering the biopharmaceutical industry, where she has dedicated her career to discovering and developing new medicines.
“Reshma Kewalramani embodies everything it means to be patient-driven and has brought that to every role she has had, from physician in Boston hospitals to CEO of one of Massachusetts’ most successful homegrown biotechs,” MassBio CEO and President Kendalle Burlin O’Connell said when the award was announced earlier. “She rightly deserves this honor for a lifetime of contributions, but we at MassBio are most proud of what she has done to deliver for patients with unmet medical needs like cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease. Her passion for collaboration and innovation are at the foundation of the Commonwealth’s life sciences industry.”
During Dr. Kewalramani’s tenure, Vertex has expanded its success in treating cystic fibrosis (CF) and gained landmark approvals for the world’s first CRISPR-based gene-edited therapy for sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia. Building on that work, Vertex’s R&D pipeline now has treatments in 10 disease areas in the clinic, across multiple modalities including small molecule, mRNA, cell and gene therapies.
The goal is to deliver best-in-class medicines to transform if not cure these diseases. Under her leadership as CEO, Vertex has consistently been recognized as the best place to work, including by Science magazine, The Boston Globe, Newsweek and Fortune.
Dr. Kewalramani completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital and her fellowship in nephrology at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital combined program.
She received her medical degree, with honors, from the seven-year medicine program at the Boston University School of Medicine. She is an alumna of the Harvard Business School, having completed the General Management Program. Dr. Kewalramani has received a number of distinguished honors and awards including the Harvard Medical School Excellence in Teaching Award, the International Institute of New England Golden Door.
