Immunovant, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for patients living with debilitating autoimmune diseases and currently evaluating IMVT-1401 in patients with moderate-to-severe active Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO), announced yesterday that it has named Pete Salzmann, MD as its new chief executive officer.

Dr Salzmann brings to Immunovant 20 years of experience from various leadership roles at Eli Lilly and Company, where he most recently served as global clinical development leader for baricitinib (Olumiant). He was responsible for designing and executing comprehensive indication development strategy and overseeing clinical trials of baricitinib. During his tenure at Lilly, he was instrumental in bringing a number of drugs to market, including Taltz in the US, and led the launch and commercialisation of products in major markets across a wide range of therapeutic categories, including immunology. Dr Salzmann also served as a general manager and started or expanded multiple Lilly businesses in major markets around the world, including China. Prior to joining Lilly, Dr Salzmann was an attending physician at the University of California, San Francisco.

Frank Torti, MD, Vant Investment chair at Roivant Pharma and chairman of the Board at Immunovant, said, 'We are incredibly excited to have Pete join Immunovant as the company advances the development of IMVT-1401. Pete's track record of starting and expanding new businesses, launching and growing products, and building and leading high-performing teams is fully aligned with the expected next stages of growth for Immunovant and IMVT-1401.'