Draghia-Akli, a veteran of J&J and Merck, joins Novavax as head of R&D

Novavax Inc. (NASDAQ:NVAX) hired Ruxandra Draghia-Akli as EVP and head of R&D as the company continues its transformation into an R&D-focused organization. Draghia-Akli, who will join the protein-based vaccine company in November, was global head of global public health R&D at Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), before which she was VP, global vaccines at Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK).

Novavax added that Draghia-Akli’s predecessor, Filip Dubovsky, retired in July and became an executive adviser. Robert Walker will continue to lead the company’s medical organization as CMO after serving as interim head of R&D...