After Aducanumab: Finding New Treatments For Neurodegenerative Diseases

An Interview With Rising Leader Virginie Buggia-Prevot

 
• By Ben Comer

As a freshman interested in neurobiology at Joseph Fourier University in Grenoble, Virginie Buggia-Prevot knocked on the lab door of an esteemed neurosurgeon and professor conducting research on deep brain stimulation. She was hooked; following a PhD in neurobiology and a post doc at the University of Chicago, Buggia-Prevot joined MD Anderson’s Neurodegeneration Consortium, managing strategic alliances and working on drug discovery. In November, she joined Valo as director of neurology discovery, an opportunity to bring new research in neurodegeneration to bear on patients’ lives.

Neurons and nervous system. 3d render of nerve cells
• Source: Shutterstock

Aducanumab, Biogen, Inc.'s on-again off-again experimental candidate for Alzheimer’s disease, took a drubbing during a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee on 6 November 2020, a stark reminder of the difficulty in finding a safe and efficacious treatment for the sixth leading cause of death in the US. Should aducanumab receive approval, despite efficacy concerns, it would still be a win for the field of neurogenerative disease research, given the dearth of available alternatives. But it would not be enough, said Virginie Buggia-Prevot, director of neurology discovery, at Valo Health. “We need a more robust response, and it will probably come from therapeutics targeting other aspects associated with the disease,” such as tau, microglia cells, or inflammation in the brain. (Also see "Biogen’s Aducanumab Falls Hard At Panel Review, Leaving US FDA In A Tight Spot" - Pink Sheet, 8 November, 2020.)

We are living in a very exciting moment for neurodegeneration, believes Buggia-Prevot. “I think we will find therapies in the...

More from Leadership

Rising Leaders 2025: J&J’s June Lanoue On Working With A Cure In Mind

 
• By Jo Shorthouse

As president of US Hematology at J&J, June Lanoue's leadership approach focuses on improving patient outcomes and organizational development. Her career path demonstrates the role of curiosity and adaptability in health care advancement.

Rising Leaders 2025: Doxie Jordan, From UNC Graduate To Global Market Strategist

 
• By Jo Shorthouse

Bristol Myers Squibb executive Doxie Jordan discusses his path to global commercial leadership and the principles guiding pharmaceutical market strategy

Podcast: Brain+ CEO Discusses “Groundbreaking” Potential Of CST Assistant For Dementia Patients

 
• By Anabel Costa-Ferreira

Devika Wood, CEO of Brain+, explains the importance of developing health tech solutions for dementia and the growing need to both raise awareness and improve overall access to nondrug interventions like CST.

Behind The Buyout: Dispatches From The Dealmaking Table

 
• By Jo Shorthouse

In a challenging funding environment for biopharma, strategic dealmaking has become a critical growth engine. In Vivo explores what it truly takes to navigate high-stakes acquisitions and partnerships, drawing on insights from seasoned industry leaders.

More from In Vivo