Cynthia Cassandro
Vice President, Patient Advocacy
Professional Overview
Cynthia Cassandro is an accomplished patient advocacy leader with over 18 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. She specializes in driving innovative patient-centric strategies that improve access and outcomes for individuals living with rare and complex diseases.
Experience Summary
Current Role
As the Vice President of Patient Advocacy at Vigil Neuroscience, Cynthia is responsible for leading the company's patient engagement efforts. She works closely with key stakeholders to ensure the patient voice is integrated throughout Vigil's drug development pipeline and commercialization plans. Under her guidance, Vigil has established deep connections with patient communities, resulting in enhanced clinical trial recruitment and improved product accessibility.
Career Progression
Prior to joining Vigil, Cynthia held progressive leadership roles in patient advocacy at prominent biopharmaceutical companies. As the Head of Global Patient Advocacy at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, she spearheaded the development of industry-leading programs that empowered patients and caregivers. Earlier in her career, Cynthia served as the Head of Patient Advocacy & Engagement at Voyager Therapeutics and held various sales and training positions at Biogen, Shire, and Janssen Pharmaceutica.
Academic Background
Cynthia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she graduated with honors.
Areas of Expertise
- Patient engagement and community building
- Strategic planning and program development
- Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management
- Rare disease and complex therapy expertise
- Regulatory and policy landscape navigation
Professional Impact
Throughout her career, Cynthia has been recognized for her ability to drive innovative patient-focused initiatives. At Alexion, she spearheaded the development of a groundbreaking global patient registry that has been instrumental in advancing research and improving patient outcomes. At Voyager, she led the creation of a comprehensive patient support program that has been widely acclaimed for its holistic approach to addressing the needs of individuals living with neurological disorders.
Conclusion
Cynthia Cassandro is a seasoned patient advocacy leader with a proven track record of success in the biopharmaceutical industry. Her deep expertise, strategic mindset, and unwavering commitment to improving patient lives position her as a valuable asset to Vigil Neuroscience as they advance their neurological drug pipeline and work to make a meaningful impact on the lives of patients and their families.
