Jay Backstrom, M.D., has served as a member of the Agios board of directors since July 2025. He is an accomplished healthcare executive with a proven track record of advancing clinical programs across a range of therapeutic areas, including rare diseases, to regulatory approval.
Most recently, he served as president and chief executive officer of Scholar Rock, where he led a strategic pipeline review and advanced the company's lead spinal muscular atrophy program through Phase 3 development. Prior to that, he was executive vice president of research and development at Acceleron Pharma, which was acquired by Merck in 2021, and chief medical officer and head of global regulatory affairs at Celgene Corporation.
He holds an M.D. from Temple University School of Medicine, received post-graduate training in internal medicine at Temple University Hospital, and holds an M.P.H. from St. Louis University School of Public Health.