Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer at Johnson & Johnson, will be stepping down at the end of the year, according to the Wall Street Journal.
"As a physician and a scientist, it is gratifying to see the healthcare landscape transformed as we unlock the best science and technology to deliver innovative medicines to solve the world's toughest health challenges," Stoffels says in a statement.
Stoffels first joined J&J's Janssen Pharmaceutica division, though left in the 1990s to co-found the antiviral developer Tibotec-Virco, the Journal says. But Stoffels rejoined J&J in 2002 when it acquired Tibotec-Virco, and subsequently became its global head of pharmaceutical research and development in 2009 and chief scientific officer in 2012 , it adds. It notes that Stoffels oversaw the development of J&J's SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.
According to the Journal, Stoffels is stepping down from his vice chairman of the executive committee and CSO positions to cut down on his travel and spend more time with his family in Europe.