(Reuters) -Moderna said its Chief Commercial Officer Arpa Garay has stepped down from the role and CEO Stephane Bancel will look over sales and marketing, sending the shares of the vaccine maker down 5% on Tuesday.

Garay, who was in the position for less than two years, will remain an employee through June 2024, the company said.

Her exit from the role comes at a time when the company, which is looking to break even in 2026, is ramping up spending on research and development as weak sales of COVID vaccine weigh on stock performance.

CEO Bancel will now directly oversee the company's efforts to drive sales of the COVID shot and its preparation to roll out the vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) next year.

The company said president Stephen Hoge will be responsible for its pipeline commercial strategy and medical affairs. This follows the departure of Chief Medical Officer Paul Burton earlier this year.