Boston — Newleos Therapeutics appointed former 89bio CEO Rohan Palekar to its board of directors and named him chairman as the biotechnology company advances clinical studies of treatments for anxiety and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
Palekar succeeds Christoph Westphal, M.D., Ph.D., who has served as executive chairman since Newleos was founded. Westphal will remain on the board as a representative of founding investor Longwood Fund.
“I am honored to join the Newleos Board as the company approaches key clinical inflection points in its ongoing anxiety trials,” Palekar said. “The CNS field is ripe for innovation, and Newleos holds the potential to address significant unmet need in patient communities that are underserved by traditional SSRIs and benzodiazepines.”
Palekar most recently served as founding CEO of 89bio, where he led programs from preclinical development through Phase 3 studies in liver and cardiometabolic diseases. Roche acquired 89bio in 2025 in a transaction valued at up to $3.5 billion.
He has more than 30 years of biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry experience, including work with venture-backed startups and commercial-stage companies.
Before joining 89bio, Palekar served as president and CEO of Avanir Pharmaceuticals after previously holding the roles of chief operating officer and chief commercial officer. Otsuka Pharmaceutical acquired Avanir in 2015.
Palekar also previously served as chief commercial officer at Medivation, where he oversaw commercial operations, medical affairs, chemistry, manufacturing and controls, and manufacturing activities.
Earlier in his career, he held senior commercial and strategic management roles at Johnson & Johnson, including leadership of the company’s immunology franchise.
Palekar currently serves on the board of Neurogene, a biopharmaceutical company developing genetic medicines for neurological diseases. He previously served on the board of Neoleukin Therapeutics.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rohan to the Newleos Board of Directors,” Westphal said. “Rohan brings an extraordinary record of industry success with broad strategic and operational experience across many therapeutic areas, including CNS, at biotech and pharma companies of all sizes.”
Timothy Noyes, CEO of Newleos, thanked Westphal for helping launch the company and develop its portfolio of neuropsychiatric drug candidates.
“On behalf of the Board, we are grateful for his many valued contributions as Executive Chairman and look forward to his continued insights and guidance as we advance the company to the next stage of development,” Noyes said.
