Recursion Pharma Shakes Up Leadership, Taps J&J Veteran as New CEO
Co-founder Chris Gibson will transition to Chairman as Najat Khan, a data science and R&D leader, takes the helm to drive the next phase of growth.
Recursion Pharmaceuticals announced a significant leadership transition on Wednesday, appointing former Johnson & Johnson executive Najat Khan as its new Chief Executive Officer, a move aimed at scaling its AI-driven drug discovery platform. The company's co-founder, Chris Gibson, who has led Recursion since its inception, will transition to the role of Chairman of the Board.
The shake-up comes as the Salt Lake City-based biotech, with a market capitalization of approximately $2.4 billion, seeks to mature from a pioneering techbio company into a fully integrated pharmaceutical business. The news followed a volatile trading session that saw Recursion's shares (NASDAQ: RXRX) fall 8.1% to close at $5.00, suggesting investor apprehension ahead of the announcement.
Effective January 1, 2026, Khan will take the helm as CEO and President. She is a seasoned leader with deep experience in integrating data science with pharmaceutical research and development. Khan previously served as Chief Data Science Officer and Global Head of Strategy & Operations for R&D at Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Pharmaceuticals, where she was instrumental in scaling the use of data science across the company's pipeline.
"Najat's extensive experience in driving R&D and business strategy at a global scale is precisely what Recursion needs in its next chapter," Gibson said in a statement. His move to Chairman is intended to allow him to focus on the company's long-term vision and external relations, while Khan will steer operational and commercial execution.
The appointment is a clear signal of Recursion's strategic focus. Khan's background aligns directly with the company's core mission of using machine learning and automated biology to decode disease and discover new therapies more efficiently. Her prior role at Recursion as Chief R&D and Chief Commercial Officer, which she assumed in April 2024, has already prepared her for this expanded leadership position.
Concurrent with the leadership change, Recursion provided a business update and reported its third-quarter 2025 financial results. The company highlighted significant operational progress, including the achievement of a $30 million milestone payment from its collaboration with Roche and Genentech. The payment was triggered by the delivery of a whole-genome map of microglial immune cells, a key step in their joint neuroscience research.
This influx of non-dilutive capital provides a solid footing as the company navigates the leadership transition. Recursion is at a pivotal point, advancing multiple programs in its internal pipeline while managing high-profile partnerships with industry giants like Bayer and Roche.
Wall Street analysts maintain a cautiously optimistic outlook on the company. Based on recent data, Recursion holds one 'Strong Buy' and one 'Buy' rating, balanced by six 'Hold' ratings. The consensus price target sits at $6.47 per share, implying potential upside from its current levels.
For investors, the key question will be how effectively Khan can translate Recursion's technological prowess into clinical and commercial success. Her mandate will involve prioritizing the most promising drug candidates, expanding the capabilities of the Recursion OS platform, and navigating the complex regulatory pathways to bring novel medicines to market. The formal announcement from the company positions the transition as a strategic move to prepare for this next stage of intense execution and growth.