Moderna Therapeutics, a developer of messenger RNA (mRNA) Therapeutics across a range of therapeutic applications, has announced that Tal Zaks, M.D., Ph.D., will join Moderna's executive leadership team as chief medical officer.

Previously, Zaks was senior vice president and head of global oncology at Sanofi, where he was responsible for all aspects of oncology drug discovery, development and commercialization.

"Moderna holds an unprecedented financial position among pre-clinical biotech companies, with $900 million on its balance sheet and strategic agreements with three industry leaders: AstraZeneca, Alexion and Merck," said Stephane Bancel, CEO of Moderna. "As we prepare to initiate several clinical trials in the coming quarters, we require an exceptional chief medical officer, someone with a track record of success in clinical development combined with strong business acumen."

Zaks began his industry career at GlaxoSmithKline in the genetics research group, where he built the oncology translational medicine team and led translational research on lapatinib as well as the in-licensing and clinical development of foretinib. Zaks is associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and has served as a volunteer physician at the Philadelphia Veterans Administration Medical Center, treating patients with genitourinary cancers.