CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Cognito Therapeutics, a late clinical-stage neurotechnology company developing non-invasive therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, has appointed Thomas Fagan as Executive Vice President of its Alzheimer’s Portfolio and a member of the company’s executive leadership team.
Fagan brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across the pharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostics industries, with a particular focus on Alzheimer’s disease. His experience spans diagnostics, therapeutics, and real-world clinical adoption, along with building cross-functional teams and developing clinical-to-commercial strategies that engage clinicians, health systems, and payers.
In his new role, Fagan will lead Cognito’s Alzheimer’s portfolio and help advance strategic planning and commercialization readiness for Spectris™. The company said his work will focus on aligning clinical development with market preparation and healthcare system engagement as Cognito moves toward key clinical milestones, including its pivotal HOPE trial.
“Tom brings deep expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and a proven track record guiding innovative technologies from clinical development to real-world clinical adoption,” said Christian Howell, CEO of Cognito Therapeutics. “As we advance our pivotal HOPE trial and prepare for broader clinical engagement, his leadership will be critical to ensuring we build the infrastructure needed to responsibly and effectively deliver this potential neuroprotective therapy to patients.”
Before joining Cognito, Fagan served as Vice President, U.S. Alzheimer’s Disease Commercial at Eisai Inc., where he led U.S. commercial strategy for the company’s Alzheimer’s disease portfolio and served on the Americas executive committee. In that role, he helped guide the launch and market expansion of LEQEMBI® (lecanemab) and built a national commercial organization focused on physician engagement, patient access, and healthcare system readiness.
Earlier, Fagan spent nearly a decade at Eli Lilly in leadership roles focused on Alzheimer’s disease. As Global Commercial Leader for Alzheimer’s Disease, he helped design and lead commercialization efforts for Amyvid (florbetapir), the first FDA-approved PET imaging agent used to detect evidence of amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease. He also served as Global Brand Development Leader for Alzheimer’s disease programs, overseeing commercial strategy for late-stage therapeutic programs and alliances.
“Alzheimer’s disease requires new approaches that bridge scientific innovation with how care is actually delivered to patients and families,” said Fagan. “Cognito’s work at the intersection of neuroscience, engineering, and patient-centered care represents an exciting opportunity to rethink how we support people living with neurodegenerative disease. I’m thrilled to join the Cognito team at such an important moment as we approach our pivotal study data readout and prepare for potential commercialization next year.”
Fagan earned a Master of Business Administration in general management from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from DePauw University, where he graduated summa cum laude and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
