Ionis (IONS) Announces Leadership Transition as R&D Veteran Richard Geary Prepares to Retire

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) is one of the 10 biotech stocks screaming a buy. On June 12, the company announced the upcoming retirement of Richard Geary, Ph.D., its executive vice president and chief development officer, effective January 2026. Holly Kordasiewicz, Ph.D., currently senior vice president of neurology, will take over the role. Geary has been with Ionis since 1995 and played a pivotal role in bringing six medicines to regulatory approval, including the company’s first independently commercialized drug, TRYNGOLZA.

A biotechnologist pouring liquid into a test tube and analyzing its components in a lab.

Dr. Kordasiewicz, who joined Ionis in 2011, brings over 20 years of experience in R&D, particularly in neurology. She leads the company’s neurology program, covering treatments for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Angelman syndrome, and Alexander disease. Her work has also contributed to key partnered programs with Biogen, including the development of QALSODY® and IONIS-MAPTRx.

As Dr. Geary transitions out of his role, he will continue as a strategic consultant through 2026 to ensure continuity. Ionis leadership praised both Geary’s legacy and Kordasiewicz’s appointment as a pivotal step in driving the company’s commitment to developing transformational therapies for patients with serious diseases.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a U.S.-based commercial-stage biotech company specializing in RNA-targeted therapies. Its approved products include TRYNGOLZA for FCS, WAINUA, and TEGSEDI for ATTRv-PN, SPINRAZA for spinal muscular atrophy, QALSODY for ALS, and WAYLIVRA for rare lipid disorders. The company has a robust pipeline, including late-stage programs like Olezarsen (for hypertriglyceridemia), Donidalorsen (for hereditary angioedema), and Zilganerse (for Alexander disease), along with several mid-stage treatments for neurological and metabolic conditions. Ionis also collaborates with leading pharma firms, including Biogen, GSK, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Roche, and Metagenomi, expanding its reach in developing transformative RNA therapies.

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