Vir Biotechnology has appointed Aziz Sawaf as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective October 5, 2026, adding a finance executive with more than 20 years of biopharmaceutical industry experience.
Sawaf will lead Vir’s finance, information technology and investor relations functions as the clinical-stage biotechnology company advances its cancer immunotherapy and chronic hepatitis delta programs.
He joins Vir from Theravance Biopharma, where he had served as CFO since 2023. He also became Senior Vice President of Operations Strategy at Theravance in 2025.
Sawaf joined Theravance in 2014 and held a series of financial leadership positions of increasing responsibility before becoming CFO.
Earlier in his career, he worked on research and development and commercial finance teams at Gilead Sciences during a period of significant expansion for the biotechnology company.
Sawaf holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Arizona, an MBA from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business and an MBEE from Johns Hopkins University. He is also a CFA charterholder.
Vir’s clinical-stage portfolio includes a program for chronic hepatitis delta and multiple PRO-XTEN dual-masked T-cell engagers targeting solid tumors. The company also has a preclinical oncology portfolio.
Vir holds exclusive rights to the universal PRO-XTEN masking platform for oncology and infectious diseases.
Sawaf’s appointment gives Vir a permanent CFO as the company focuses its capital on clinical programs it believes have the greatest potential for patients and shareholders.
KEY QUOTES:
“I am delighted to welcome Aziz to the executive leadership team. His experience in driving financial performance across the biotech lifecycle, from clinical development through regulatory approval and commercialization, will be a valuable asset for Vir Biotechnology’s next phase of growth. Aziz also brings a mindset of disciplined capital allocation, thoughtful investor engagement and tailored strategic partnering.”
Marianne De Backer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vir Biotechnology
“I am thrilled to join Vir Biotechnology at this moment in the company’s trajectory as it builds out its differentiated cancer immunotherapy pipeline while continuing to advance a potentially transformative hepatitis delta virus program for patients. I look forward to partnering with Marianne, the Board and the entire Vir Biotechnology team to continue to allocate capital with discipline, advance the opportunities with the greatest potential for patients and create durable value for shareholders.”
Aziz Sawaf, Incoming Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Vir Biotechnology
