Sarah Kleinpeter, our Head of Alzheimer's and Dementia Franchise, has been fascinated with the brain from a young age. When she was just 16 years old, she spent her summer shadowing a neurosurgeon. “I always believed the study of the brain is the great frontier. It’s something that could change the world if we understood it better,” she said. That early curiosity set Sarah on a path that ultimately led her to Biogen, where today, she and her team work to deepen understanding, accelerate diagnosis, and transform care to enhance the lives of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
The Future of Alzheimer's Care
With decades of innovation in neurology, Sarah is helping to drive Biogen’s continued progress at a time when science is accelerating faster than ever before. At Biogen, that means relentlessly following science with a multi-target approach, addressing the main drivers of Alzheimer’s disease including amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau. While amyloid plaques can build up in the brain for years with no outward signs of the disease, tau is more closely linked to the onset of symptoms.
“Our goal is to build a sustainable, long-term pipeline that enables us to make meaningful contributions in this space. It's not only about finding the right treatment for each patient. It’s about using diagnostic, monitoring, and screening tools to guide treatment decisions and to better understand disease staging and progression,” she said.
As populations age, we recognize the growing need for comprehensive, collaborative solutions that help families, communities, and healthcare systems navigate the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease.
“I’ve worked in a lot of different therapeutic areas in my career and Alzheimer’s disease is a team sport: it’s not one company, not one group, not one person – it’s everyone working together,” she said. That collaborative spirit drives Biogen’s partnerships across healthcare, advocacy, and policy, as we work to accelerate diagnosis, advance science, and transform care for patients and families impacted by this disease.
A Career Driven by Curiosity
Curiosity and a growth mindset are principles that have guided Sarah throughout her career.
Before joining Biogen in 2024, Sarah’s lifelong love of learning inspired her to take on an early role as an educator, teaching chemistry at the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University. “I loved teaching. It’s fantastic to see that spark go off with kids,” she said.
As she entered the biotech industry, Sarah advanced from scientist to senior leadership roles across multiple therapeutic areas. Along the way, she led global teams, launched new medicines, and built a reputation for driving transformation. She often describes herself as an “entrepreneur at heart,” guided by a belief that progress comes from building on each step forward and by a drive to challenge traditional ways of working to better serve patients. This outlook continues to shape her work at Biogen. Sarah believes that meaningful progress in Alzheimer’s disease comes from continuous learning, curiosity, and always keeping patients at the center. Biogen carries this mindset forward to guide the next generation of treatments and help healthcare systems prepare for future innovation.
An Eye to the Future
A teacher at heart and a certified coach, Sarah devotes her free time to developing the next generation of leaders by coaching young people in the workplace and mentoring industry innovators at startups.
Her advice to those just starting out in neuroscience and Alzheimer’s disease in particular: “adopt an entrepreneurial mindset. Rather than becoming an expert in just one thing, have a range of tools in your toolbox because the science is evolving so quickly.”
As Sarah looks ahead, her curiosity and entrepreneurial mindset mirrors Biogen’s bold ambition. Through relentless science, strong partnerships, and a deep understanding of the personal impact of Alzheimer’s disease, Biogen is striving for a future where Alzheimer’s can be managed as a preventable chronic condition.
