Immunovant, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for patients living with debilitating autoimmune diseases, announced yesterday that it has named Dr Robert K Zeldin as its new chief medical officer.

Dr Zeldin is a clinical immunologist by training and brings more than two decades of clinical, regulatory and industry experience to the company. He joins the company from Acceleron Pharma where he served as CMO. Previously he was CMO of Ablynx NV, where he served on the company's Executive Committee. Dr Zeldin's career in industry started at Merck, where he spent seven years in increasingly strategic roles in worldwide regulatory affairs and clinical development. After Merck, he served as vice president and US medical franchise head – Respiratory and Dermatology at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, and then as senior vice president and head of Global Clinical Development at Stallergenes SA. Prior to his work in industry, he served as a medical officer at the US Food & Drug Administration's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. He also spent several years in clinical practice.

Pete Salzmann, MD, chief executive officer of Immunovant, said, 'Robert has an impressive track record of delivering results and leading clinical development teams. I am delighted to welcome him as we pursue studies of IMVT-1401 for multiple autoimmune diseases.'