Sue Browne
About Sue Browne
Sue Browne, Ph.D., is Passage Bio’s Chief Scientific Officer and joined the company in June 2021 after leading Biology and Biomarkers/Precision Medicine; she specializes in drug discovery and development for neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric, and rare CNS diseases . She has publicly presented PBFT02 program data and strategy, including preclinical and interim clinical findings for FTD-GRN at the ESGCT Annual Conference on October 24, 2024, underscoring her leadership of Passage’s lead gene therapy asset . Passage Bio’s 2024 Annual Report and investor materials list her among the leadership team, confirming her role at the company during 2024–2025 . Note: Passage Bio’s 2025 proxy lists executive officers for SEC purposes as CEO, CFO, and General Counsel; Browne is not included in that Section, which limits proxy-based disclosure of her compensation and beneficial ownership .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passage Bio | VP Biology; Head of Biomarkers & Precision Medicine; Chief Scientific Officer | 2021–present | Led translational biology and biomarker/precision medicine; advanced PBFT02 and broader CNS gene therapy strategy |
| Acadia Pharmaceuticals | Executive Director, Translational Research & External Innovation | 2019–2021 | Drove strategic expansion of CNS pipeline and external innovation initiatives |
| Teva Pharmaceuticals | Director, Small Molecule Discovery Research | ~5 years | Led small molecule discovery programs across CNS therapeutic areas |
| Merck Research Laboratories | Department of Neuroscience | ~7 years | Conducted neuroscience research underpinning neurodegenerative drug discovery |
| Weill Cornell (Cornell University’s Weill Graduate School of Medical Science) | Assistant Professor, Neuroscience Program & Neurology | 1999–2006 | Academic research on etiologies of neurodegenerative disorders (Huntington’s, ALS, Parkinson’s) |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | Postdoctoral Research, Neurology | Pre-1999 | Postdoctoral work in neurology supporting subsequent academic and industry CNS focus |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) | Scientific Advisory Board Member | Since 2015 | Long-standing advisory role reflecting domain expertise in Huntington’s disease |
Equity Ownership & Alignment
- The 2025 proxy’s beneficial ownership table lists directors, named executive officers (NEOs), and 5% holders; Browne is not included among executive officers or directors in that section, and her specific equity holdings are not disclosed there .
- Executive officers listed for SEC purposes as of March 31, 2025 are CEO William Chou, CFO Kathleen Borthwick, and General Counsel Edgar B. (Chip) Cale, limiting proxy-based visibility into Browne’s pay and ownership details .
Employment Terms
- Passage Bio adopted a Compensation Recovery (Clawback) Policy on October 12, 2023 applicable to “Covered Employees” including current and former executive officers and Section 16 officers; incentive-based compensation must be recovered in the event of a restatement with overpayment over the prior three years .
- The 2025 proxy details employment agreements and severance for CEO, CFO, and General Counsel; no Browne-specific employment agreement or severance terms are disclosed in the proxy .
Investment Implications
- Limited direct disclosure: Browne appears as CSO in company materials and 8-K investor presentations, but is not an SEC-listed executive officer in the 2025 proxy; therefore pay, bonus metrics, vesting schedules, and ownership detail are not available via proxy tables, constraining pay-for-performance analysis and insider alignment assessment .
- Governance safeguard: Passage Bio’s Clawback Policy applies to incentive compensation of Covered Employees, enhancing downside protection against misreported performance; whether Browne is a covered executive under Section 16 would determine applicability to her awards .
- Execution signal: Browne’s leadership of PBFT02 and public presentation at ESGCT demonstrates direct influence on the company’s lead asset and clinical strategy; continued program milestones are likely the principal drivers of value creation attributable to R&D leadership .
- Monitoring priorities: Track future 8-K Item 5.02 filings for any CSO compensation or contract changes, and watch DEF 14A updates for inclusion among NEOs; monitor Form 4 filings if Browne is designated a Section 16 officer to assess insider transactions and potential selling pressure .