Viridian Therapeutics - 1792 Exchange

Rating Overview

Viridian Therapeutics is Medium Risk.

Viridian Therapeutics is Medium Risk. The company often yields to political activism in shaping corporate governance, potentially alienating consumers, dividing employees, and harming shareholders. The company implements race and identity-based policies that replace merit, excellence, and integrity with preferential treatment and outcomes. The company occasionally embraces corporate initiatives that redirect its central focus from business goals to partisan policies and divisive issues at times. This approach fails to safeguard free exercise, free speech, and free enterprise.

Rating Criteria

Corporate Weaponization Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Cancellations	Medium Risk
Discriminatory Philanthropy	No Data
Employment Protection	High Risk

Corporate Weaponization ⓘ

Corporate Governance and Public Policy Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Advocacy Bias	Medium Risk
Funding	Lower Risk
Political Actions	No Data

Corporate Governance and Public Policy ⓘ

Rating Criteria Detail

Criteria Risk Level Rationale

Corporate Weaponization

Criteria:

Has canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level:

Medium

Rationale:

Viridian Therapeutics integrates ESG into its business practices. From its 2018 Annual Report: “[Regarding performance-based compensation,] performance goals under the 2016 Plan will be based on any one or more of the following performance criteria: … workforce diversity” (1). The company has a history of divisive corporate policies and practices. However, in March 2020, the company removed diversity-based incentive pay from its Annual Report. To date, the company has not publicly addressed this change, leaving shareholders without clarity regarding the company’s reasoning or future direction (2). However, Viridian Therapeutics has not canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (3).

Criteria:

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level:

N/A

Rationale:

Viridian Therapeutics does not publish charitable giving guidelines (1).

Criteria:

Employment policies fail to protect against viewpoint or other discrimination and/or are ideological in nature.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Viridian Therapeutics appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its hiring and leadership composition. From its 2024 Annual Report: “We strive to develop a diverse slate of candidates to interview for our open positions” (1). From its Corporate Governance Guidelines: “[In assessing director nominees,] the Board considers diversity with respect to demographics such as gender, race, ethnic and national background, geography, age, skills, sexual orientation…” (2). Viridian Therapeutics does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (3).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy

Criteria:

Uses corporate reputation to support causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

Medium

Rationale:

Viridian Therapeutics supports DEI within its business practices. From its 2024 Annual Report: “We are committed to equality, inclusion and diversity in the workplace…” (1). Otherwise, the company has not supported ideological causes or policies (2).

Criteria:

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

Viridian Therapeutics has not used corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (1).

Criteria:

Uses corporate political actions and/or financial contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level:

N/A

Rationale:

Viridian Therapeutics does not operate a PAC or engage in lobbying at this time (1)(2)(3).