KEYNOTE SPEAKER
June 26, 2026 | 8:45 - 9:30 AM | ⚲ ASC2.2102 Auditorium
The Importance of Being Unreasonable: Building a Company on the Frontiers of Science and Medicine
Founded in 2002, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals was started to harness the revolutionary discovery of RNA interference for human health. After overcoming many challenges, the company triumphed in advancing RNAi therapeutics as a whole new class of medicines, bringing 6 FDA-approved products to patients around the world. The story of building Alnylam will be shared.
John Maraganore
CEO and Principal, JMM Innovations, LLC; Founding CEO, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc
Dr. John Maraganore served as the founding CEO and a Director of Alnylam from 2002 to 2021, where he led the creation of RNAi therapeutics as a whole new class of medicines. Today, five RNAi therapeutic medicines have been approved by global regulatory authorities, bringing new hope to patients around the world.
Prior to Alnylam, John held leadership roles at Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Biogen, Inc. where he invented and led the discovery and development of ANGIOMAX® (bivalirudin) for injection. Previously, he was a scientist at ZymoGenetics, Inc. and the Upjohn Company.
Dr. Maraganore is currently a partner or advisor of a number of leading investment firms, and is also a Director for a number of publicly traded and privately held biopharmaceutical companies. As the principal of JMM Innovation, LLC, John also serves as a strategic advisor to a number of innovative biotechnology companies.
Dr. Maraganore is on the Board of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, or “BIO,” where he is Chair Emeritus. Dr. Maraganore received his B.A., M.S. and Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Chicago.