BOSTON– PepGen Inc. (Nasdaq: PEPG), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing next-generation oligonucleotide therapies for severe neuromuscular and neurological diseases, has announced the appointment of Dr. Kasra Kasraian as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The move brings deep technical and regulatory expertise to the company as it advances its clinical pipeline through mid-stage development.
Dr. Kasraian joins PepGen with more than 25 years of experience in product and process development, chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC), and technical operations. His career spans both small and large molecule development, as well as cell and gene therapies, across several leading biotech firms.
“We are pleased to welcome Kasra to our executive leadership team,” said James McArthur, PhD, President and CEO of PepGen. “His proven track record in CMC leadership, especially in bringing therapies for rare genetic disorders from early development through global approvals, will be invaluable as we progress our programs targeting severe neuromuscular conditions.”
Prior to joining PepGen, Dr. Kasraian served as Senior Vice President of Quality, Regulatory Affairs, and CMC Sciences at bluebird bio. He also previously led the company’s Technical Development and Operations group, playing a pivotal role in the approval and commercial launch of three gene therapies: SKYSONA™, ZYNTEGLO™, and LYFGENIA™. Before bluebird, he held senior leadership roles at Zafgen, Inc., and worked in technical and scientific positions at Biogen, Wyeth Biotech, Pfizer, and Genetics Institute.
At Biogen, he led CMC teams that successfully guided the submission and approval of three biologics license applications (BLAs) and marketing authorization applications (MAAs).
Dr. Kasraian holds a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a BS in Chemical Engineering, both from the University of Kentucky.
As CTO, Dr. Kasraian will oversee PepGen’s technical strategy and operations, including product development, manufacturing, and regulatory CMC functions, positioning the company for continued clinical advancement and potential commercialization of its lead candidates.
