Jean-Pierre Somadossi, PhD, is a visionary leader in antiviral drug development with over four decades of experience in biopharmaceutical research and executive management. He earned his PhD in Bioorganic Chemistry from the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis in France and began his career at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). Somadossi later advanced to faculty positions at Emory University School of Medicine, where he pioneered research on nucleotide analogues for treating viral infections and cancers, laying the foundation for his groundbreaking contributions to modern therapeutics. In 1998, he co-founded Idenix Pharmaceuticals, serving as Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President of Research and Development, where he oversaw the discovery of key nucleoside inhibitors for hepatitis C and other viruses, leading to the company's $665 million acquisition by Novartis in 2009. Joining Gilead Sciences as Executive Vice President of Research and Development, Somadossi spearheaded the development of sofosbuvir (Sovaldi), a transformative oral therapy for chronic hepatitis C that achieved peak annual sales exceeding $10 billion and revolutionized treatment paradigms globally. Since founding Atea Pharmaceuticals in 2014, Dr. Somadossi has served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board, guiding the company’s mission to develop orally bioavailable, small-molecule direct-acting antivirals for severe viral diseases, including COVID-19, hepatitis, and hemorrhagic fevers. Under his leadership, Atea has advanced a robust pipeline, including the late-stage candidate AT-527, securing significant partnerships and funding to address unmet needs in infectious diseases.