The new Moderna Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:MRNA) chief financial officer has left the company one day after assuming the post.
Jorge Gomez is departing after questions were raised about his tenure at his former employer, Dentsply Sirona, a dental-supply company, state media reports.
Gomez began his new role as CFO of the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based drug company on Monday, May 9, joining the pharma major from the dental manufacturer where he served in the same role.
On May 10, Dentsply notified the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it is investigating reports that it incentivised dental providers to purchase products to enable executives to hit bonus targets.
Due to this, Gomez immediately left Moderna, though he will still receive his full US$700,000 salary for one year even though he only worked one day there.
Although Dentsply notified the SEC of the investigation this week, the probe began in March, with the company also reportedly investigating "other actions to achieve executive-compensation targets".
Dentsply's chief executive Don Casey was ejected from his position on April 19 as a result of the investigation.
Moderna has announced that David Meline, its recently retired finance chief, will assume his old role.
Since hitting a high of US$484.47 last summer, Moderna's stock has lost about three-quarters of its value, falling below $125 in March and going largely sideways since, falling over 20% in the past month.
The shares were up 5% to US$129.82 in early trading on Thursday.