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November 14, 2024

Michael Ehlers, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Michael Ehlers is an Entrepreneur Partner at MPM BioImpact.  He is currently the CEO of Ascidian Therapeutics, a clinical-stage RNA editing company developing exon editing technology for gene correction in hereditary diseases.

Prior to joining MPM BioImpact, Dr. Ehlers was General Partner and CSO at Apple Tree Partners (ATP) where he was co-founder of Ascidian Therapeutics; Aulos Bioscience, a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company; and Replicate Bioscience, a clinical-stage RNA therapeutics company. Prior to ATP, Dr. Ehlers was Executive Vice President for Research & Development at Biogen with a focus on neurological, immunological, and rare diseases.  During his time at Biogen, he advanced 20 novel clinical candidate compounds including overseeing the approval of SPINRAZATM (nusinersen), the first drug approved for spinal muscular atrophy, and VUMERITYTM (diroximel fumarate), the second oral fumarate approved for multiple sclerosis, as well as advancing development programs for currently approved LEQEMBITM (lecanemab), the first fully approved drug for slowing cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease, and QALSODYTM (tofersen) the first genetic medicine for ALS.

Previously, Dr. Ehlers was Senior Vice President for BioTherapeutics and Chief Scientific Officer for Neuroscience at Pfizer where he created and advanced the Neuroscience and Rare Disease portfolios, bringing 22 compounds into the clinic as well as directing global development activities, and steering a network of academic collaborations focused on immunology and oncology. He advanced development programs for currently approved BEQVEZTM (fidanacogene elaparovovec) for hemophilia B, one of the first ten viral-based gene therapies approved in any disease.  A subset of Dr. Ehlers’ Neuroscience programs formed the basis of the Pfizer spin-out Cerevel Therapeutics.

Dr. Ehlers is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2003 Eppendorf & Science Prize in Neurobiology, the 2007 John J. Abel Award in Pharmacology, the 2007 Society for Neuroscience Young Investigator Award, a NIMH MERIT Award, and the 2009 National Alliance for Schizophrenia & Depression Distinguished Investigator Award. He received the 2008 Breakthrough Research Award of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, the 2016 Biomedical Research Award of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and was recognized as a 2024 PharmaVoice 100 Biotech Pathfinder. In 2013 he became the 11th recipient of the Thudichum Medal of the Biochemical Society of the United Kingdom.  Dr. Ehlers has authored over 100 scientific papers, served on the Editorial Boards of Annual Reviews in Medicine, Annual Reviews in Pharmacology and Toxicology, the Journal of Neuroscience, the Journal of Biological Chemistry, and Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, and sat on advisory committees of the NIH.  He is a member of the Board of Directors of Ascidian Therapeutics, Aulos Bioscience, Replicate Bioscience, and the McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience.

Dr. Elhers earned his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and his B.S. in chemistry from Caltech.