Michael A. Panzara, MD, MPH is currently Chief Medical Officer at Neurvati Neurosciences. Dr. Panzara has over 20 years of biopharmaceutical experience focused on developing therapies for neurological disorders having served in leadership roles at Wave Life Sciences, Sanofi, Genzyme, and Biogen before joining Neurvati in 2022 and currently serves on the board of directors of Athira Pharma, Inc., a clinicalstage biopharmaceutical company. Prior to joining Neurvati, he was Chief Medical Officer, Head of Therapeutics Discovery and Development at Wave Life Sciences where he oversaw Wave’s therapeutic research and development portfolio with a focus on genetically-defined diseases.

He served as the Head of the Multiple Sclerosis, Neurology and Ophthalmology Therapeutic Area for Global Development at Sanofi Genzyme, where he oversaw global regulatory approvals of the multiple sclerosis (MS) drugs LEMTRADA (alemtuzumab) and AUBAGIO (teriflunomide) and was responsible for development strategy and oversight within these therapeutic areas. He joined Genzyme in 2009 as Group Vice President, Multiple Sclerosis and Immune Diseases, overseeing the development of MS and other inflammatory disease therapies. Prior to joining Genzyme, Dr. Panzara was Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Neurology at Biogen. During his time there, he served as the global clinical lead for the development of TYSABRI (natalizumab) for MS, overseeing its clinical program and global approvals and managed clinical development activities for all late-stage MS products including AVONEX (interferon beta-1a), PLEGRIDY (PEG-interferon beta-1a), and TECFIDERA (dimethylfumarate).

Dr. Panzara received his undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Pennsylvania and medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine. He trained in neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, received his postdoctoral training in immunology and rheumatology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and received his Master of Public Health degree from the Harvard School of Public Health.