The 5 Most Powerful Women in Biopharma: 2025 News & Key Figures

As of January 2025, Reshma Kewalramani (Vertex Pharmaceuticals) is the sole female CEO at a top-20 pharma company, following the stepping down of Emma Walmsley (GSK CEO) and Belén Garijo (Merck KGaA CEO)4 6.

Reshma Kewalramani is recognized for guiding Vertex Pharmaceuticals, valued at approximately $110 billion. Under her leadership, the company secured FDA approval for Journavx, a non-opioid pain treatment3 4.

Yvonne Greenstreet is CEO of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (market cap $60.3 billion). She is noted for expanding RNA interference (RNAi) medicines into new indications and driving Alnylam’s net product revenue to $1 billion for the first time in 20234.

Sarah Boyce, CEO of Avidity Biosciences, led the company through major fundraising and a successful IPO. Avidity now has three therapies in registration-enabling clinical trials for rare muscular disorders, with a market cap that has grown 530% since her leadership began4.

Emma Walmsley (GSK) and Belén Garijo (Merck KGaA) were among the leading female CEOs in big pharma but have both stepped down or are departing, highlighting a scarcity of female representation at the very top of the industry6 4.

Fortune’s 2025 Most Powerful Women list recognizes several healthcare leaders:
Reshma Kewalramani (Vertex, #18), Emma Walmsley (GSK, #20), and Belén Garijo (Merck KGaA, #39) reinforce their global business influence1.

Despite these achievements, women remain underrepresented in biopharma leadership, with less than 10% of CEOs in the industry being female as of 2025. Female-led innovation is actively transforming healthcare standards and addressing persistent gender disparities2.