Arvinas, Inc. announced that John Houston, Ph.D., the company's Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer and President, plans to retire from his executive roles following the appointment of a successor. Houston will remain as Chairperson of Arvinas' Board of Directors as the company conducts a search for new leadership.
The announcement marks the end of an eight-year tenure during which Houston transformed Arvinas into a leader in targeted protein degradation, guiding the clinical-stage biotechnology company through multiple industry milestones for PROTAC (PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera) technology.
Leadership Achievements in PROTAC Development
During Houston's leadership, Arvinas achieved several groundbreaking accomplishments in the PROTAC field. The company reported the first positive pivotal Phase 3 trial results for a PROTAC and submitted the first new drug application for this novel drug class. Houston also oversaw the advancement of six programs into clinical trials and the demonstration that orally administered PROTACs can achieve pharmacodynamic activity in the central nervous system.
"John has guided Arvinas through a substantial number of 'firsts' for PROTACs in the industry, from the first to enter the clinic to the first positive pivotal Phase 3 trial and the first new drug application," said Briggs Morrison, M.D., Arvinas Board Member and Lead Independent Director. "John and Arvinas have turned targeted protein degradation into a well-known modality across several therapeutic areas."
Clinical Pipeline and Therapeutic Focus
Arvinas is currently advancing multiple investigational drugs through clinical development programs using its PROTAC protein degrader platform. The company's pipeline includes vepdegestrant, targeting the estrogen receptor for patients with locally advanced or metastatic ER+/HER2- breast cancer; ARV-393, targeting BCL6 for relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma; ARV-102, targeting LRRK2 for neurodegenerative disorders; and ARV-806, targeting KRAS G12D for mutated cancers, including pancreatic and colorectal cancers.
The PROTAC platform is designed to harness the body's natural protein disposal system to selectively and efficiently degrade and remove disease-causing proteins, representing a novel approach to treating debilitating and life-threatening diseases.
Career Background and Succession Planning
Houston brings more than 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries to his role. He joined Arvinas in January 2017 as President of Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer, responsible for leading discovery, translational, and early clinical development research efforts. He was appointed President and CEO in September 2017 and named Chairperson in 2023.
"It has been an honor to lead Arvinas alongside incredibly talented colleagues and a supportive Board of Directors," Houston said. "I look forward to remaining a part of Arvinas as Chairperson and I'm confident in the Company's ability to improve the lives of patients with serious diseases through our revolutionary PROTAC protein degradation platform."
The Arvinas Board of Directors has begun conducting a search for Houston's successor, with Morrison noting the board's commitment to "conducting a thoughtful search to ensure continued strong leadership." The company emphasized that Houston's efforts have positioned Arvinas to benefit many patients in the years to come as the targeted protein degradation field continues to advance.
