Reshma Kewalramani Recognized Among TIME’s 2025 Influential Figures

Vertex Pharmaceuticals CEO Reshma Kewalramani, originally from Mumbai, has been included in TIME Magazine's 2025 list of the 100 most influential people.

A career that spans continents and sectors

Reshma Kewalramani, who currently serves as the President and CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, was born in Mumbai, India, and moved to the United States with her family at the age of 11. Now living in Boston, she has built a notable career in both medicine and biotechnology. Her educational journey began at Boston University, where she completed a seven-year liberal arts and medical program in 1998. She later pursued a nephrology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, institutions affiliated with Harvard Medical School. In 2015, she completed the General Management Program at Harvard Business School, adding a managerial dimension to her medical expertise.

From clinical roles to biotech leadership

Kewalramani started her professional life in clinical practice, working at several prominent healthcare institutions, including Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and MIT. After over a decade at Amgen, where she held various roles in the biotech space, she joined Vertex Pharmaceuticals in 2017. Within a year, she was appointed Chief Medical Officer, and by 2020, she became the company’s CEO. She also holds a seat on Vertex’s Board of Directors.

Scientific development under her leadership

During her tenure, Vertex has focused on advancing treatments for serious genetic diseases. One of the company’s key developments is Trifakta, a therapy aimed at treating cystic fibrosis. Additionally, VX-147, an investigational drug for kidney disease linked to APOL1 gene variants, is currently undergoing clinical evaluation.

One of the notable achievements under her leadership was FDA approval of the first CRISPR-based treatment, which aims to correct mutations in a patient’s own DNA to treat conditions such as sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. These breakthroughs reflect a shift in how rare diseases are being approached through gene-editing technologies.

Recognition beyond the biotech industry

Over the past few years, Kewalramani has received multiple honors for her leadership and contributions. In 2021, The Commonwealth Institute ranked Vertex second among women-led businesses in Massachusetts. She has been awarded the Golden Door Award by the International Institute of New England and the Hope Visionary Award. In 2019, she was named one of Boston Business Journal’s Power 50, and in 2021, she was selected as a New Englander of the Year by the New England Council.

TIME Magazine, in listing her among the most influential people of 2025, highlighted her dual expertise in medicine and corporate leadership, stating, “Vertex’s growth under a physician’s leadership reflects not just scientific but executive achievement.”

Through her work at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Reshma Kewalramani continues to be a significant figure in the intersection of science and business, steering innovations that impact public health.