Dr. Paul Burton Joins Moderna as Chief Medical Officer

Moderna Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines, announced that Paul Burton, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.C, M.R.C.S will join the Company as Chief Medical Officer, effective July 6, 2021. He will serve on Moderna’s Executive Committee and report to Chief Executive Officer Stéphane Bancel.

“Paul’s extensive medical experience in the global pharmaceutical and biotech industry will be important to Moderna as we expand internationally and continue our journey as a commercial company,” said Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna. 

Dr. Burton joins Moderna after spending sixteen years with Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ). Since March 2020, he served as Chief Global Medical Affairs Officer of Janssen Pharmaceuticals where he was responsible for Janssen’s worldwide medical affairs strategy and execution. Previously, he served as Janssen’s Vice President and Head, Cardiovascular and Metabolic (CVM) Medical Affairs. Dr. Burton also led the Johnson & Johnson collaboration with APPLE for the digital HEARTLINE™ study, and previously led clinical operations for all therapeutic areas across the Americas.

“Moderna’s transformative platform has the potential to improve the lives of so many people around the world,” said Dr. Burton. “I am honored to take on the role of Chief Medical Officer at Moderna.”

Dr. Burton has an M.D. from the University of London, is board certified in surgery and is a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons with specialist training in cardiothoracic surgery. He holds a Ph.D. in cardiovascular molecular and cellular biology from Imperial College in London and is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals.