Alector, Inc. announced the appointment of Gary Romano, M.D., Ph.D., as Chief Medical Officer. In this role, Dr. Romano will lead the company's global clinical development strategy, including oversight of the clinical development, clinical operations, biometrics and digital science, and medical affairs functions. Dr. Romano will report to Sara Kenkare-Mitra, Ph.D., President and Head of Research and Development of Alector.

Dr. Romano's appointment is effective May 23, 2022. Sam Jackson, M.D., M.B.A., Senior Vice President, Clinical Sciences, who served as interim CMO since September 7, 2021. Sam is pursuing a new opportunity outside of Alector though he will continue to consult with Alector.

Dr. Romano joins Alector with more than 25 years of experience in neurodegenerative disease, including 18 years in industry roles at Merck, the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, and Passage Bio. Dr. Romano served as the Chief Medical Officer of Passage Bio until May 2021, where he was responsible for the clinical development of gene therapies targeting rare monogenic central nervous system disorders and achieved Investigational New Drug and Clinical Trial Application clearances for three gene therapies. Prior to Passage Bio, Dr. Romano oversaw clinical development of the neurodegenerative disease portfolio for more than five years at Janssen as the Deputy Leader, Neurodegenerative Disease Area and Head of Development, Neurodegenerative Disease.

He previously held other leadership positions at Janssen, including Head of Neuroscience Biomarkers and Head of Early Clinical Development. Earlier in his career, Dr. Romano served as the Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutic Area Group Co-Leader and Leader, Neuroscience Experimental Medicine at Merck.