Management Bios

Dr. Stephen Mason is a senior biopharmaceutical executive and drug discovery leader with more than 25 years of experience advancing first-in-class therapeutics from early concept through IND-enabling development and clinical nomination. At Viridion Therapeutics, Dr. Mason brings deep expertise in translational science, portfolio strategy, and execution-driven R&D leadership to support the development of CARG-2020 and the expansion of Viridion’s multifunctional immunotherapy platform.

Dr. Mason has held leadership roles across global pharmaceutical companies and innovative biotechnology startups, including Pfizer, Janssen Pharmaceuticals (Johnson & Johnson), Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, and CaroGen Corporation. He played a critical role in the discovery and development of nirmatrelvir, the antiviral component of PAXLOVID®, and has led multiple programs through clinical candidate nomination by integrating mechanistic biology, translational strategy, and disciplined operational execution.

At Viridion, Dr. Mason contributes to shaping R&D strategy, advancing oncology programs toward the clinic, and building scalable development frameworks aligned with capital-efficient value creation. His experience in designing milestone-driven development plans, optimizing resource allocation, and aligning scientific innovation with regulatory and clinical strategy is directly applicable to Viridion’s mission of preventing cancer recurrence through tumor microenvironment reprogramming.

In addition to his role at Viridion, Dr. Mason is a co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of an early-stage oncology biotechnology company and serves as Executive Director of Business Development for a preclinical solutions provider, where he advises emerging biotech companies on portfolio strategy, execution rigor, and external readiness for financing and partnerships. He is a co-author of more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific publications and a co-inventor on three patents.

Dr. Mason holds a Ph.D. in Molecular and Medical Genetics from the University of Toronto and a B.Sc. in Genetics from the University of Alberta.