Dr. Laura AskBio Welcomes Renowned Scientific Leader Dr. Laura Sepp-Lorenzino to Board of Directors
Dr. Laura Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, a clinical-stage gene therapy company and a wholly owned, independently operated subsidiary of Bayer AG, has officially announced the election of Dr. Laura Sepp-Lorenzino, PhD, as an Independent Member of its Board of Directors. Her appointment became effective on April 4, 2025, marking a significant strategic move in AskBio’s continuing journey as a global pioneer in the gene therapy space.
Gustavo Pesquin, Chief Executive Officer of AskBio, expressed his enthusiasm for the appointment, stating, “We are pleased to welcome Dr. Sepp-Lorenzino to our Board of Directors. Laura brings a distinguished track record as both a scientist and strategic advisor. Her comprehensive experience in cutting-edge therapeutic modalities, including gene therapy and genome editing, will help us sustain our momentum in research and development. Her insights will be essential as we progress our portfolio of clinical-stage programs through and beyond Phase 2 trials and bring forward our next generation of pre-clinical candidates.”
A Distinguished Leader in Genetic Medicine
Dr. Laura Sepp-Lorenzino is widely recognized in the life sciences sector as a transformative scientific leader. Her appointment to AskBio’s Board underscores the company’s commitment to deepening its scientific expertise and advancing its leadership in genetic medicine. With over three decades of executive, scientific, and academic experience, she has consistently demonstrated the ability to bridge cutting-edge science with clinical and commercial translation.
Currently, Dr. Sepp-Lorenzino serves as Executive Vice President and Scientific Advisor at Intellia Therapeutics, a biotechnology company leading the development of systemic CRISPR-based therapies. In her prior role as Chief Scientific Officer at Intellia, she played a pivotal part in shaping the company’s strategic direction, spearheading research efforts, and positioning Intellia as a frontrunner in the clinical deployment of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology.
Her influence within Intellia contributed significantly to the company’s emergence as a global innovator in genetic therapeutics. Under her scientific leadership, Intellia became the first company to present clinical data from an in vivo CRISPR therapy — a landmark achievement in the gene editing field.
A Career Spanning Industry Titans
Before joining Intellia, Dr. Sepp-Lorenzino served in multiple high-impact roles across leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms. At Vertex Pharmaceuticals, she held the title of Vice President of Research and External Innovation, where she directed strategic initiatives in nucleic acid-based therapeutics. Her role included oversight of scientific research, technology evaluation, and external partnerships that aligned with Vertex’s R&D mission.
Earlier in her career, she contributed to Alnylam Pharmaceuticals — a trailblazer in RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics — as Vice President and Entrepreneur-in-Residence. Her responsibilities spanned exploratory research and business development initiatives that shaped Alnylam’s direction during a critical phase in its growth. She also had a distinguished tenure at Merck & Co., Inc., where she held progressive leadership positions over 14 years, ultimately directing key programs in oncology and drug discovery.
Dr. Laura In addition to her industry roles, Dr. Sepp-Lorenzino serves on several boards, further demonstrating her influence and reach across the biopharmaceutical ecosystem. She currently sits on the Boards of Taysha Gene Therapies, a company focused on genetic therapies for central nervous system diseases, and the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), a prominent advocacy organization that supports the cell and gene therapy sector.
Her scientific advisory experience extends even further. She advises Thermo Fisher Scientific, Arsenal Capital Partners, and the UK Medical Research Council’s Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator (NATA), helping shape innovation agendas across industry, investment, and academia.
An Academic and Scientific Trailblazer
Dr. Laura-Lorenzino’s academic foundation is equally impressive. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Pharmacy from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, followed by a PhD in Biochemistry from New York University. Her doctoral and postdoctoral research provided early insights into molecular mechanisms that would underpin much of her later work in therapeutic development.
Dr. Laura Her early professional career began at the renowned Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where she served as Assistant Attending Molecular Biologist. This early engagement with one of the world’s most prestigious cancer research centers laid the groundwork for a lifetime of innovation at the intersection of molecular biology and clinical medicine.
Dr. Laura-Lorenzino is also an active voice in the scientific publishing community. She serves on the editorial boards of several high-impact journals, including Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, Molecular Therapy – Nucleic Acids, and Cell & Gene Therapy Insights, where she contributes to peer review and editorial direction, helping shape the scientific conversation in the evolving field of gene and nucleic acid-based medicine.
Industry Recognition and Awards
Dr. Laura In recognition of her accomplishments and leadership, Dr. Sepp-Lorenzino has received numerous industry accolades. In 2023, she was honored with the prestigious Rosalind Franklin Award in Science, celebrating her contributions to molecular biology and biotechnology. She was also named among the Women in Biopharma in 2022 and recognized as one of the Fiercest Women in Life Sciences in 2019 — distinctions that reflect her ongoing impact and commitment to innovation, diversity, and leadership in science.
Advancing AskBio’s Vision and Mission
Dr. Sepp-Lorenzino’s election comes at a pivotal time for AskBio. The company, which maintains a bold vision to cure genetic diseases through transformative gene therapies, is progressing multiple clinical and preclinical programs focused on neurological, neuromuscular, and cardiovascular conditions. With a foundation built on over 20 years of research and platform development, AskBio is entering a critical phase of clinical advancement and pipeline expansion.
Dr. Laura According to Mansuo Shannon, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of AskBio and a current Board member, Dr. Sepp-Lorenzino’s addition to the Board strengthens its strategic capabilities at a crucial juncture.
“Dr. Laura is a trail-blazing leader in the biopharmaceutical industry whose contributions have transformed the way we approach drug development,” Dr. Shannon noted. “She has successfully translated groundbreaking technologies, including small molecules, biologics, oligonucleotides, and CRISPR systems, into differentiated therapeutic modalities. Her unique perspective on what it takes to bring innovative therapies from bench to bedside will be instrumental in guiding AskBio through its next stage of development. We are honored to welcome her to the Board and excited to collaborate.”
A New Chapter in a Legacy of Innovation
For Dr. Laura-Lorenzino, joining the AskBio Board marks a new chapter in her already distinguished career. In her official statement, she expressed her excitement about contributing to a company known for its scientific rigor and pioneering achievements.
“Dr. Laura I am thrilled to join AskBio’s Board of Directors at such an exciting and promising time for the company,” said Dr. Sepp-Lorenzino. “AskBio has a storied history of innovation in gene therapy, and its commitment to advancing transformative therapies for patients with serious genetic conditions is deeply inspiring. I look forward to working closely with my fellow Board members and the leadership team as the company moves toward critical milestones in its clinical and preclinical pipeline. I believe the therapies AskBio is developing have the potential to change lives in profound ways.”
