# Adam Townsend

> Adam Townsend is the President and CEO of Merida Biosciences, a Cambridge, Massachusetts biotech that launched in April 2025 with $121 million in Series A financing to build precision therapeutics that selectively eliminate the pathogenic antibodies driving autoimmune and allergic diseases. He joined after more than 20 years in global biopharma, most recently as Chief Operating Officer of Apellis Pharmaceuticals, where he built the commercial organization that carried the company to two approved products, and earlier through a run of launch roles at Biogen across neurology and rare disease. Trained as a medical biochemist in the UK, Townsend is an operator taking his first CEO seat on a platform designed to clear disease at its root.

- **Role:** President & CEO at Merida Biosciences
- **Organizations:** Merida Biosciences, Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Biogen, EUSA Pharma, Amgen, Novartis
- **Nationality:** British
- **Education:** BSc (Honors), Medical Biochemistry, Royal Holloway, University of London
- **Known for:** Named first President & CEO of Merida Biosciences, launching the company with $121M in Series A financing in April 2025, As COO of Apellis, built and led the commercial organization through the company's transition to a commercial-stage business with two approved products, Led launches of blockbuster products in neurology and rare disease at Biogen, including work on multiple sclerosis, hemophilia, and Spinraza franchises

## Career timeline

- **pre-2010** — Early leadership roles in Europe: Amgen (Switzerland and UK marketing) and EUSA Pharma (General Manager, UK, Ireland and Nordic Region; Head of Commercial)
- **2010** — Joins Biogen, holding progressive leadership roles across commercial and corporate development
- **2010-2018** — At Biogen: Global Marketing Head of Multiple Sclerosis, VP Account Executive for Hemophilia, VP Asset Executive for Spinraza, and SVP of Specialty Medicines, Rare Disease, and Corporate Development
- **2018** — Appointed Chief Commercial Officer at Apellis Pharmaceuticals
- **2024** — Appointed Chief Operating Officer at Apellis, leading commercial and medical affairs as the company reached two approved products
- **2025** — Departs Apellis and becomes President & CEO of Merida Biosciences; company launches publicly in April 2025 with $121M Series A

## Achievements

- Named first President & CEO of Merida Biosciences, launching the company with $121M in Series A financing in April 2025
- As COO of Apellis, built and led the commercial organization through the company's transition to a commercial-stage business with two approved products
- Led launches of blockbuster products in neurology and rare disease at Biogen, including work on multiple sclerosis, hemophilia, and Spinraza franchises
- Over 20 years of global biopharmaceutical experience spanning commercial operations and corporate development

## Latest updates

- **2025-04** — Merida Biosciences launches publicly with $121M Series A co-led by Bain Capital Life Sciences, BVF Partners and Third Rock Ventures, with Townsend as President & CEO.
- **2025-03** — Townsend joins Merida Biosciences as CEO after departing Apellis Pharmaceuticals in February 2025.

## Links

- Website: https://meridabio.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-townsend-1b52904

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/adam-townsend
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-06