April 22, 2015
By Krystle Vermes, BioSpace.com Breaking News Staff
Massachusetts-based Biogen has three women on its 10-member board of directors as of April 2015, and it’s no coincidence – the company sees the value in female expertise. In fact, Biogen started identifying senior women in 2014 and training them for board positions, even if they’re at other companies, according to the Boston Globe.
A recent report by Liftstream revealed that more than half of small and medium-sized biotechnology companies in Massachusetts and California have boards that consist entirely of men. Less than four percent of companies in Europe and the U.S. have a female chair. However, Biogen sees that there is room for improvement in the industry.
George Scangos, chief executive officer of Biogen, told the news source that he intends to help women navigate a path to the boardroom. Last year, women who were identified for board positions were permitted to attend three-day workshops, connecting them with companies looking for directors.
While it may seem unusual, Scangos told the Globe that he thinks it’s a “broader way of thinking of people and business.”
Biogen recently made news on April 21 when it released data from its PLEGRIDY study, which showed that the drug could benefit individuals living with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
In an updated report, analysts predicted that Biogen would post $16.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Female Biotech Billionaire Makes the TIME 100 List
Biogen may be making strides in terms of female employment, but women have been making their mark on the industry for years. One example of this is Elizabeth Holmes, who was recently named to the TIME 100 list of the world’s most influential people, according to CBS News. Most notably, Holmes founded Theranos in 2003, a biotech company that focuses on diagnostic blood testing.
On April 6, Theranos announced that Holmes had been invited to join Arizona Governor Doug Ducey at the signing of a new law, “Laboratory Testing Without Order.”
“My life’s mission in building Theranos is to change this outdated, expensive, and disenfranchising health care paradigm,” said Holmes. “I believe every individual has the right to access actionable health care information when they need it the most – to feel better, do more, and live better.”
Theranos is best known for creating a laboratory that can precisely analyze tiny samples of bodily fluids including blood and urine. The goal is to reduce the amount of liquid that needs to be retrieved from the body.
