---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-21-331813"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "BIIB"
cik: "0000875045"
company_name: "BIOGEN INC."
filed_at: "2021-11-17T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-28T07:35:26.018895+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.55
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Biogen R&D head Alfred Sandrock to retire Dec 31, 2021; interim named

## Summary
- Alfred W. Sandrock, Head of R&D, will retire effective Dec 31, 2021, after 23 years at Biogen.
- Priya Singhal, Head of Global Safety & Regulatory Sciences, will serve as interim R&D head.
- Sandrock led development of key drugs: Tysabri, Tecfidera, Spinraza, Plegridy, and Aduhelm.
- Biogen has launched a search for a permanent successor.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-21-331813
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: BIIB
- cik: 0000875045
- company_name: BIOGEN INC.
- filed_at: 2021-11-17T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.55
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/875045/000119312521331813/0001193125-21-331813-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/875045/000119312521331813/d257656d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-331813
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-331813.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-331813.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Alfred W. Sandrock, Jr., M.D., Ph.D. departed as Head of Research & Development at BIOGEN INC..
  - Action: retire
  - Role: Head of Research & Development
  source text: On November 15, 2021, Biogen Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that Alfred W. Sandrock, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., Head of Research & Development, will retire from the Company, effective December 31, 2021.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/875045/000119312521331813/0001193125-21-331813-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.