George Scangos tapped as BIO’s coronavirus czar

BIO has tasked former Biogen chief George Scangos with leading the trade group’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, Reuters reports. Scangos currently heads the Bay Area startup Vir Biotechnology, which is working on its own coronavirus therapy — teaming up with China’s WuXi Biologics to create monoclonal antibody drugs. 

About 20 BIO member companies are researching therapeutics, vaccines, or diagnostics that target the virus. 

“The role is still evolving but it is clear someone needs to pick up the reins,” Scangos told Reuters.