Driving Impact in Rare Disease: A Q&A with Eléonore Dubois

Eléonore Dubois, Product Development & Commercialization (PDC) Lead for Dravet Syndrome, has spent nearly six years at Biogen building a career rooted in passion, energy, and global perspective. Known for her infectious enthusiasm and high-energy approach, Eléonore thrives on connection, whether collaborating with colleagues or bringing new ideas to life. Her journey has taken her across the world, having lived and worked in France, Slovenia, Vietnam, Singapore, the United States, and Switzerland, shaping both her professional outlook and her appreciation for diverse cultures.

Outside of work, Eléonore draws inspiration from an equally rich and active personal life. A proud mother of two young daughters, she balances family, sport, and adventure, embracing her love for the mountains through skiing and her competitive spirit through endurance sports, including training for an upcoming triathlon. At home, her family’s multilingual environment, spanning French, English, German, and Greek, reflects the same curiosity and openness that define her career. 

Read on to learn more about what Eléonore loves most about her role, how she experiences Biogen’s culture, and her advice for those looking to join the growing team.

Tell me about your career journey. What led you to Biogen?

I’ve always been passionate about healthcare, and the impact treatments can have on patients when they can receive them – that has always been my compass. I studied pharmacy and business, and during my training in hospital pharmacies, I worked on multiple sclerosis at the time where few meaningful treatments were available. Later, I appreciated the profound impact Biogen had on patients and their families. 

Over time, I built a broad range of experiences across business development, market access, marketing, and commercial roles, giving me a well-rounded perspective on how therapies move from development to real-world impact.

When I joined Biogen in 2020, I started in the Cambridge office and led launch preparation for our amyotrophic lateral sclerosis therapy. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to move back to Europe and take on several roles, from serving as commercial lead for spinal muscular atrophy, to becoming the International Center of Excellence Lead for Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Biogen has always encouraged me to keep moving. It's a fast-paced environment where new opportunities emerge every day, and if you’re passionate, it’s easy to align that with business needs. Each step has brought me closer to my current role in PDC, which truly feels like the role I’ve been working toward all along.

Can you describe your role as a Product Development & Commercialization Lead? 

I think of myself as an orchestrator, bringing together all the key elements needed to ensure we deliver the best possible product to patients. It starts with an innovative idea from our research team, but from there, it needs to be developed in a way that meets regulatory requirements, is accessible to patients, and can be supported by healthcare systems. What I love most about this role is the cross-functional leadership and the breadth of impact. I have visibility across the entire asset lifecycle, from development through commercialization, working closely with teams across research, development, regulatory, market access, medical and commercial bringing different perspectives. Being in an above-market role, I can help shape how an asset comes to life globally and ensure it reaches the patients who need it most. In Dravet syndrome, the unmet medical need is incredibly high, and that brings a real sense of purpose to what I do. Knowing that the work we’re doing has the potential to make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives is what drives me and keeps me focused.

What do you enjoy about the culture at Biogen? 

What I really appreciate about Biogen’s culture is the balance. It’s a large organization with the resources and capabilities to make a real impact, yet still small enough that you feel connected and heard. If you have an idea and are willing to invest in it, there’s a genuine openness to making it happen. Being located at our international headquarters in Baar, I also value the incredibly multicultural and inclusive atmosphere, where so many nationalities come together by design. 

What excites you most about your future here? 

What excites me most is that we’re still building a robust pipeline, and we can help shape what success looks like and make a meaningful difference with a potential product launch. There’s a strong sense of momentum, not only within the team but also from the broader community we’re engaging. We’re also actively growing, bringing in new talent and perspectives, which adds to the excitement. You can feel the energy building as the team expands and the vision becomes more tangible. It’s a unique moment to be part of something that’s still taking shape, where everyone plays a role in turning potential into reality.

What advice do you have for someone looking to join the team? 

To be successful on this team, you need an entrepreneurial mindset and a genuine passion for rare diseases. We’re a small, high-performing group, which means being ready to roll up your sleeves, stay curious, and step beyond your defined role to support where needed. It’s important to bring a strong “can-do” attitude and a willingness to operate across multiple fronts, while maintaining a patient and community-focused approach. We work very closely with the communities we serve, so empathy and connection are key. Above all, if you’re driven by purpose and excited by the opportunity to help transform the lives of people living with rare diseases, this is an incredibly rewarding place to be.