Former Pfizer CSO Mikael Dolsten Joins Two Biotech Boards, Advancing Gene Editing and Mast Cell Therapeutics
Key Insights
Dr. Mikael Dolsten, former Pfizer Chief Scientific Officer, has joined the boards of Arbor Biotechnologies (search) and MC Sciences (search) as both companies advance novel therapeutic platforms.
Dolsten's 16-year tenure at Pfizer included advancing over 150 drug candidates into clinical studies and leading regulatory approval of 36 medicines and vaccines.
Arbor Biotechnologies (search) is progressing its lead gene editing program ABO-101 for primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (search) into clinical trials.
Dr. Mikael Dolsten, former Chief Scientific Officer and President of Worldwide Research, Development, and Medical at Pfizer Inc., has been appointed to the boards of two emerging biotechnology companies, bringing his extensive pharmaceutical R&D expertise to advance next-generation therapeutic platforms.
Arbor Biotechnologies Gains Gene Editing Leadership
Arbor Biotechnologies (search) announced Dolsten's appointment to its Board of Directors in June 2025. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based clinical-stage company is developing a pipeline of novel gene editing therapeutics targeting genetic conditions from ultra-rare to common genetic diseases.
"Mikael's experience leading world-class R&D organizations and guiding companies through periods of scientific and operational inflection will be a tremendous asset to Arbor," said Paul Meister, Chairman of the Board of Arbor Biotechnologies (search).
Arbor's unique suite of optimized gene editors enables gene knockout, excisions, reverse transcriptase editing, and large gene insertions, going beyond the limitations of early editing technologies. The company's lead program, ABO-101 for primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (search), is progressing into clinical trials, with a focus on genomic diseases of the liver and central nervous system for which no existing functional cures exist.
MC Sciences Advances Mast Cell Therapeutics
In August 2025, MC Sciences (search) appointed Dolsten as Independent Chairman of the Board. The Naples, Florida-based company is developing first-in-class therapeutics targeting mast cells across multiple high-need disease indications.
Wolfgang Taumann, CEO of MC Sciences (search), commented, "We are thrilled to be strengthening our leadership team with the addition of Mikael Dolsten to our Board. His unparalleled experience in advancing transformative medicines to patients will be instrumental in accelerating our promising first-in-class and transformative mast cell-targeting therapeutics to clinical development."
MC Sciences (search)' scientific platform is built on the discovery of a novel mast cell receptor (search) that controls entire mast cell activity. The company aims to develop therapeutics for diseases including chronic urticaria (search), systemic mastocytosis (search), asthma (search), COPD (search), food allergy, and fibrotic diseases, as well as chronic inflammatory disorders such as MCAS, fibromyalgia (search), IBS, chronic Lyme disease, and POTS/EDS.
Distinguished Pharmaceutical Career
During his 16-year tenure at Pfizer, Dolsten advanced more than 150 drug candidates into clinical studies and led the regulatory approval of 36 medicines and vaccines. His leadership shaped breakthrough innovations across small molecules, biologics, gene therapies, and vaccines, including leading Pfizer's scientific response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to Pfizer, Dolsten held executive leadership roles at Boehringer Ingelheim as EVP and Head of Worldwide Research, Wyeth Research as President, and AstraZeneca as Global VP of R&D. His leadership has contributed to corporate transactions exceeding $100 billion in value.
"I am thrilled to join Arbor's Board and support the team in realizing the full potential of their next-generation gene editing platform," Dolsten said regarding his Arbor appointment. "Arbor's deep discovery capabilities, pipeline of differentiated in vivo therapeutics, and mission to address genetic diseases at their root cause make it one of the most exciting companies in this space."
Current Portfolio and Academic Roles
Dolsten currently serves on the public boards of Agilent Technologies and Rocket Pharmaceuticals and holds advisory roles with Blackstone Life Sciences, GV (formerly Google Ventures), Bain & Company, and Formation Bio. He maintains board or advisory positions with private biotechnology companies including Orbis Medicine, ImmuneAI, Fair Journey Biologics, Orogen Therapeutics, Quarry Thera, and ChAI Discovery.
As a Visiting Professor at Lund University and member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Dolsten has authored over 160 scientific publications and holds numerous patents. He holds both an M.D. and Ph.D. in Tumor Immunology from Lund University, Sweden, and has advised U.S. and U.K. leadership on public health and pandemic preparedness.
Strategic Investment and Development
MC Sciences (search) is backed by ROC Venture Group (search), with Managing Partner Aaron Stafford noting, "As early investors, we believed in Wolfgang's vision and leadership and the transformative potential of MC Sciences from day one. MC Sciences has demonstrated impressive capital efficiency and generated compelling proof-of-concept data supporting the potential to develop superior mast therapeutics."
The company is approaching a Series-A funding round in Q4 2025, with ROC Venture Group (search) planning to expand its investment to support MC Sciences (search)' advancement toward clinical development.