Neurocrine Biosciences Inc. has appointed Dr. Sanjay Keswani to its executive management team as Chief Medical Officer (CMO), effective June 2, 2025. Dr. Keswani, an accomplished physician-scientist with more than 20 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, will lead the company's clinical development and medical affairs activities.
Dr. Keswani succeeds Dr. Eiry W. Roberts, who has served as CMO for the past seven years and will remain with Neurocrine in a strategic advisory role.
"Sanjay brings a wealth of strategic and development expertise to our team, enhancing our capabilities as we enter an exciting and pivotal time for the company," said Dr. Kyle W. Gano, CEO of Neurocrine Biosciences. "His contributions will extend our reach beyond small molecule medicines, enabling us to explore new modalities across our therapeutic areas of focus."
Leadership Experience and Expertise
Dr. Keswani has extensive executive leadership experience spanning both large pharmaceutical companies and small biotechnology firms. He was instrumental in the development of several first-in-class and best-in-class approved medicines throughout his career.
Most recently, Dr. Keswani served as the President and CEO of ImmunoBrain, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics that leverage endogenous neuroimmune communication to promote brain repair in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
Prior to ImmunoBrain, he held the position of Senior Vice President and R&D Head for Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Rare Diseases at Hoffman La Roche. His experience also includes serving as Vice President of Exploratory and Clinical Translational Research at Bristol-Myers Squibb, where he was responsible for multiple therapeutic areas, including immunology, neuroscience, rare diseases, fibrosis, and virology.
Medical Background and Education
Dr. Keswani's credentials include being an elected Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in the United Kingdom. He previously served as a Neurology Faculty member at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he provided care for patients with diverse neurological conditions and led an RO1-funded Neuroimmunology research laboratory focused on discovering treatments for neurodegeneration.
His educational background includes graduating with honors from St. Bartholomew's Hospital and holding a First-Class honors BSc degree from St. Mary's Hospital, London in Pathology & Basic Medical Sciences with a specialization in Immunology. Dr. Keswani completed his residency in Neurology and fellowships in Neuroimmunology and Neurophysiology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Strategic Implications for Neurocrine
The appointment comes at a strategic time for Neurocrine Biosciences as the company looks to expand its therapeutic reach. Dr. Keswani's diverse background in neuroscience, rare diseases, and immunology aligns with Neurocrine's focus areas and may signal the company's intentions to diversify beyond its current portfolio.
With Dr. Keswani's expertise in both large pharmaceutical development programs and innovative biotech approaches, Neurocrine appears positioned to strengthen its clinical development capabilities while potentially exploring new treatment modalities beyond its traditional small molecule approach.
The transition in leadership, with Dr. Roberts remaining in an advisory capacity, suggests Neurocrine is planning for continuity while bringing in fresh perspectives to drive its next phase of growth and innovation in the neuroscience and endocrinology therapeutic spaces.
