With two coronavirus deaths recorded on US turf, organizations around the country are dialing their response to a possible epidemic.
BIO, the biotech trade group, has appointed its own coronavirus czar — George Scangos of Vir Biotechnology — to coordinate the industry’s response, Reuters reported late Friday. Scangos, best known for his stint as Biogen CEO, and his infectious disease startup were one of the first to jump into the hunt for a treatment against Covid-19.
Scangos will lead an ad hoc committee aimed at facilitating therapeutic, vaccine and diagnostics development and, to the extent possible, avoid duplication of efforts, BIO spokesperson Rich Masters told Endpoints News. Precise functions are still being explored and will likely change over time.