Call for Business Leaders to Economically Disengage from Russian Industry
[عربي, 繁體中文 (Traditional), 简体中文 (Simplified), English, Español, Deutsch, Français, 日本語, Pусский, Svenska, Український]
903 signatories as of 7 p.m. ET, April 6, 2022
Members of the Global Business Community,
We, leaders in the life sciences industry, are appalled by the unprovoked war started by Russia against its neighbor Ukraine. This barbaric act will lead to substantial loss of life, trauma to millions of people, and the dislocation of civil society in a nation that has repeatedly expressed its peaceful intentions. In short, this is a criminal act deliberately committed by Russia. Its ramifications are far-reaching and touch the entire globe.
We reject the actions ordered by President Putin and the failure of those who enable and embolden him. This includes the captains of Russia’s industries who support him, stand by him, and whom we urge to collectively steer Russia towards peace.
We must take action to make clear our abhorrence of Russia’s actions. Immediate and complete economic disengagement is required. Accordingly, we call on all members of our industry, and others, to cease all business involvement in Russia.* We pledge to:
- Cease investment in Russian companies and new investment within the borders of Russia
- Reject investment from Russian funds
- Halt collaboration or service agreements with Russian companies
- Except for food and medicines, halt trade in goods with Russian companies
These actions should only be reversed upon the restoration of peace and democracy in a sovereign Ukraine.
Lastly, we ask our colleagues in all the industries in the United States**, including software, social media, IT, agriculture, legal and financial services, medical devices, medical instruments, and minerals, to take the same steps and withhold assistance to oligarchs who enable this war.
We cannot look back in the future wondering whether we could have taken stronger measures. This justifies the strongest possible economic disengagement now.
We salute the brave Russians opposing their government at home and admire their courage. We hope more will join their protests.***
We stand with our colleagues, friends, and families in Ukraine bravely fighting the invading army. We support you, and you are not alone.
To be added as a signer, please submit your name, title, and affiliation using this Google form. We welcome all, including employees at all levels of all industries in all countries, to sign onto this pledge and urge you to share it with your colleagues. Even if the executives who lead your company have not signed this pledge yet, your signature signals your support of them to do so.
Authors:
Meg Alexander, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Ovid Therapeutics
Paul Hastings, President and CEO, Nkarta Therapeutics
Peter Kolchinsky, Ph.D., Managing Partner, RA Capital Management, LP
Jeremy Levin, D. Phil., MB BChir, Chairman and CEO, Ovid Therapeutics
Ted Love, M.D., President and CEO, Global Blood Therapeutics
John Maraganore, Ph.D., Founding CEO, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Footnote:
* Our call for economic disengagement extends to other countries and their elites should they join Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.
** Business leaders in the home technology industry have issued a similar Call for Economic Disengagement for modeled on this letter. Take a look and consider signing their letter, too, even if you have already signed this letter. Your support for their action will help them win over more business leaders in their sector to get involved.
*** Examples of Russian industry leaders who have spoken out against Putin and the war: Oleg Deripaska, Mikhail Fridman
Co-Signatories:
Due to tremendous response, we have shifted the full list of co-signatories to a separate page so as not to slow down the load time of this letter. Go to full list of co-signatories.
Prof Asif Ahmed, Executive Chairman, Mirzyme Therapeutics, Birmingham U.K.; Senior Advisor to the President of the University of Southampton
Jeff Albers, CEO, Blueprint Medicines
Bruce Booth, Partner, Atlas Venture
John Celebi, CEO, Sensei Biotherapeutics
Adam Chazan, Managing Director, Cowen
Ben Chiarelli, Founder and CEO, Cellibre
Bharatt Chowrira, PhD, JD, President, PureTech Health
Alicia Chung, SVP Strategy & Business Development, Bionaut Labs
Scott Clarke, CEO, Ambagon Therapeutics
Ron Cohen, M.D., President and CEO, Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.
John Crowley, Chairman and CEO, Amicus Therapeutics
Ramin Farzaneh-Far, M.D., Venture Partner, R.A. Capital Management
Lisa Gable, WSJ best selling author & former US Ambassador
Jean-Francois Formela, Managing Director, Atlas Venture
Marshall W. Fordyce, M.D., CEO, Vera Therapeutics, Inc.
Jackie Fouse, Ph.D., CEO, Agios Pharmaceuticals
John Fowler, CEO, Kezar Life Sciences
Mohamed A. Genead, MD, CEO & Co-Founder, Aviceda Therapeutics Inc.
Amedee des Georges, Assistant Professor, City University of New York
Michael Gilman, PhD, CEO, Arrakis Therapeutics
Daniel Grau, CEO, Avilar Therapeutics
Barry Greene, CEO, Sage Therapeutics
Yvonne Greenstreet, CEO, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Steven Holtzman, former CEO, Decibel Therapeutics
Gene Kinney, Ph.D., President and CEO, Prothena Corporation plc
Joseph Kolchinsky, CEO, OneVision Resources
Donna L. LaVoie, President & CEO, LaVoieHealthScience
Pablo Legorreta, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Royalty Pharma
John McHutchison, AO, MD, CEO & President, Assembly Bio
David Meek, CEO, Mirati Therapeutics
Stelios Papadopoulos, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board, Biogen
Pawel Przewiezlikowski, Chief Executive Officer, Ryvu Therapeutics, Poland
Sarah Reed, General Counsel, RA Capital Management
Jason Rhodes, Partner, Atlas Venture
Lynda Romain, Retired Principal, King David Schools, South Africa
Eric Rose, Chief Compliance Officer, RA Capital Management, LP
Adam Rosenberg, Aliada Therapeutics
Laura Shawver, PhD, CEO, Silverback Therapeutics
Otello Stampacchia, Ph.D., Managing Director, Omega Funds
Daphne Zohar, Founder & CEO, PureTech Health
Bryan Roberts, Venrock
Corey Goodman, Managing Partner, venBio Partners
Bassil Dahiyat, President and CEO, Xencor
Stephen Rapundalo, President and CEO, Michigan Biosciences Industry Association
Andrea Rabney, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Argot Partners
D.A. Wallach, General Partner, Time BioVentures
Stefan Vitorovic, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Vida Ventures
Carolyn Short, President & COO, Cofounder, Himalaya Therapeutics SEZC
Dr. Alise Reicin, President and CEO, Tectonic Therapeutic
Aoife Brennan, CEO, Synlogic
Michael N. Dudley, PharmD, President and CEO, Qpex Biopharma
Matthew Price, Executive VP, COO and co-founder, Phosplatin Therapeutics
Laurent Fischer, MD, CEO, Adverum
Patrick Enright, Managing Director, Longitude Capital
Nessan Bermingham, Partner, Khosla Ventures
Chen Yu, Managing Partner, TCG Crossover
Viraj Pillai, FC
Francesco de Rubertis, Partner, Medicxi
Matthew Foy, Partner, SROne
Ohad Hammer, Partner, Pontifax
Jay Skyler, Professor, University of Miami Diabetes Research Institute
Edward M Kaye, CEO, Stoke Therapeutics
Amir Zamani, Principal, Bain Capital Life Sciences
Tillman Gerngross, CEO, Adimab
Jake Simson, Partner, RA Capital Management
Helen Torley, President and CEO, Halozyme
Clifford Stocks, Founder and CEO, OncoResponse
David Flores, President & CEO, BioCentury Inc.
Clay B. Siegall, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Seagen Inc.
Thomas J. Schall, Ph.D., President, CEO and Chairman, ChemoCentryx
Stewart J Hen, Managing Partner, Serrado Capital LLC
Lee Cooper, Venture Investments, Leaps by Bayer
Michael Nolan, CEO, Freenome
Steve Vassallo, General Partner, Foundation Capital
David Berry, CEO, Valo Health
Jeff Kindler, CEO, Centrexion Therapeutics
Matthew Gline, CEO, Roivant
Seth Harrison, Founder and Managing General Partner, Apple Tree Partners
Douglas Ingram, CEO and President, Sarepta Therapeutics
Brian Cali, Board Member, Jnana Therapeutics
Heather Mirjahangir Fernandez, CEO, Solv Health
Jeff Huber, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Triatomic Capital
Owen Smith, Partner, 4BIO Capital
Austin Ferrone, Senior Associate, Madryn Asset Management
David Chang, M.D., Ph.D., President, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Allogene Therapeutics
Arie Belldegrun, M.D., Executive Chairman and Co-Founder, Allogene Therapeutics
Arthur Franken, General Partner, Investment Director, Gilde Healthcare
Adrian Dalca, Assistant Professor, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
