Business
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Announces Leadership Transition
Keith Gottesdiener, M.D. to Step Down as Chief Executive Officer Following NDA Submission for Setmelanotide in POMC and LEPR Deficiency Obesities Expected in
About this update from Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Keith Gottesdiener, M.D. to Step Down as Chief Executive Officer Following NDA Submission for Setmelanotide in POMC and LEPR Deficiency Obesities Expected in the First Quarter of 2020\n Board Forms Search Committee to Assist in Identifying Successor BOSTON, Jan. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RYTM), a biopharmaceutical company aimed at developing and commercializing therapies for the treatment of rare genetic disorders of obesity, today announced that Keith Gottesdiener, M.D., intends to step down as Chief Executive Officer, President and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Board has formed a search committee and retained an executive search firm to assist in identifying Dr. Gottesdiener’s successor. Dr. Gottesdiener plans to serve in his current role until the completion of the Company’s submission of its New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I want to thank Keith for his significant contributions to Rhythm,” said David Meeker, M.D., Chairman of the Board. “Under Keith’s leadership, Rhythm has become a recognized leader in rare genetic disorders of obesity, advancing setmelanotide through late-stage clinical development in four indications, identifying additional melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) pathway disorders that may be amenable to treatment, and building a robust community of healthcare providers, advocacy groups, patients and families to better understand, identify and treat people living with these conditions. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.” Dr. Meeker continued, “As Rhythm prepares to enter its next chapter as a commercial company, now is an appropriate time to initiate this transition. We believe Rhythm has a strong management team, is well capitalized, and all of its major milestones are on track, including the planned submission of our first NDA to the FDA. We are confident this will be a smooth transition as we work to identify the next leader for Rhythm and continue to execute on our mission of transforming the standard of care for people with rare genetic disorders of obesity.” “For the more than eight years that I have been CEO, it has been an honor to lead the talented Rhythm team, and I am immensely proud of our work to advance setmelanotide and bolster the understand...