J&J’s Hideo Makimura named Affinia CMO

Affinia Therapeutics, a US biotech with a pipeline of rationally designed adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapies for cardiovascular and neurological diseases, has announced the appointment of Hideo Makimura (pictured, above) as its chief medical officer (CMO).

Dr Makimura is a renowned drug developer with more than 20 years’ experience as a physician-scientist within biopharma companies and academia. He has broad R&D, clinical, translational, business, regulatory, and executive management experience across multiple phases, modalities, geographies, and therapeutic areas. 

In particular, Dr Makimura has expertise in early- and late-phase drug development in cardiovascular, metabolic, ophthalmology, neuroscience, oncology, and rare diseases while holding roles of increasing seniority at Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK).