
Biotech entrepreneurs Arie Belldegrun and Cedric Francois test positive for Covid-19 — and here's why they want you to know
Arie Belldegrun, one of the best known entrepreneurs in biotech, has tested positive for coronavirus.
In a statement out late Friday, the 71-year-old Belldegrun — who co-founded Allogene after selling Kite to Gilead for $11.9 billion — said he had self-quarantined after developing a cough and a “transient low-grade fever.” A test on Friday showed he was positive for Covid-19.
And he’s not alone. Over the weekend Cedric Francois, the CEO and co-founder of Apellis, a Kentucky biotech that lists its main office in Waltham, MA, added himself to the list of biotech execs with a confirmed case of Covid-19. Francois had attended the Cowen healthcare conference, where at least 1 Biogen exec attended while sick with the virus.
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