Kyverna Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has appointed Naji Gehchan, M.D., MBA, as Chief Medical and Development Officer, where he will lead the company’s research, clinical development, and medical affairs functions.

Gehchan brings 20 years of U.S. and international experience across multiple therapeutic areas, including immunology, as both an accomplished pharmaceutical executive and a physician to this newly established role at Kyverna.

“We are thrilled to welcome Naji, a seasoned clinical development leader skilled in immunology, to our team as we prepare for our next phase of growth,” said Warner Biddle, CEO of Kyverna. “As we advance KYV-101 to late-stage development, having a leader like Naji, who has a track record for out-of-the-box thinking and successfully executing innovative pipeline programs will be critical. In addition, it is rare to find an accomplished development executive who also possesses such a deep business background, but Naji has both. This combination will enable him to lead our talented bench of CAR T, neurology and autoimmune experts to deliver upon the clinical milestones that lie ahead for us.”

Experience

Gehchan joins Kyverna from Eli Lilly and Company, where he most recently served as the Head of Clinical Development for imlunestrant, a novel breast cancer treatment. In this role, he advanced this complex development program from Phase 1 to global submissions, laying the groundwork for a successful launch. Gehchan spent more than 16 years at Lilly, holding key senior leadership positions, including Associate Vice President of Sales for the U.S. Diabetes Team and Chief Marketing Officer/Business Unit Senior Director for Lilly France, Belgium and Netherlands.

Prior to this, Gehchan worked as a Business Unit Manager, European Medical Affairs Lead, and Clinical Research Physician. He began his career as a medical doctor at Hôtel-Dieu de France in Beirut and served as a First Responder, Team Leader, and Member of the Medical Committee at the Lebanese Red Cross.

“I am excited to be a part of the pioneering cell therapy work Kyverna is advancing for patients living with autoimmune diseases, a population in need of innovative treatment options,” said Gehchan. “CAR T-cell therapies have changed the standard of care in oncology and have the potential to redefine care in autoimmune diseases. I have been impressed with the early research and development work the talented team at Kyverna has already achieved and look forward to bringing my experience in late-stage development and commercialization to urgently drive forward the clinical development priorities that lie ahead for the company.”

Gehchan holds a Doctor of Medicine and Masters in Biological Science from Saint Joseph University of Beirut, a Specialized Master of Healthcare Management and Pharmaceutical Marketing from ESCP Business School, and a Master of Business Administration from MIT Sloan.