Septerna Appoints Keith Gottesdiener as Board Director and R&D Committee Chair
Key Insights
Septerna has appointed Keith Gottesdiener, M.D., a veteran biotechnology executive with over 30 years of experience, to its board of directors and as chairperson of a newly constituted R&D Committee.
Dr. Gottesdiener brings extensive leadership experience from Prime Medicine, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, and Merck Research Laboratories (search), where he oversaw the approval of more than 20 novel therapeutics.
The appointment comes at a pivotal time as Septerna advances its GPCR (search)-targeted drug pipeline, including the promising PTH1R (search) program for hypoparathyroidism (search).
Septerna, Inc. (NASDAQ: SEPN), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR (search)) drug discovery, announced the appointment of Keith Gottesdiener, M.D., to its board of directors on September 29, 2025. The seasoned biotechnology executive, who brings over 30 years of experience advancing medicines from discovery through commercialization, will serve as chairperson of a newly constituted R&D Committee of the Board.
Strategic Leadership Addition
"Dr. Gottesdiener's exceptional track record of successfully advancing novel therapeutics from discovery through development to approval, combined with his deep expertise in regulatory strategy and clinical development across multiple therapeutic areas, will be invaluable as we advance our lead programs and build Septerna into a premier GPCR (search) therapeutics company," said Jeffrey Finer, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Septerna.
The appointment comes at a critical juncture for the company as it advances its lead programs and continues building its pipeline of differentiated GPCR (search)-targeted therapies.
Extensive Industry Experience
Dr. Gottesdiener has held leadership roles spanning academia, pharmaceutical R&D, and public biotechnology companies. He most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Prime Medicine, Inc., leading the gene-editing company through its initial public offering. Prior to that role, Dr. Gottesdiener served as Chief Executive Officer of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where he oversaw the development and approval of setmelanotide for three indications in rare genetic forms of obesity (search).
Before joining the biotechnology industry, Dr. Gottesdiener spent 16 years at Merck Research Laboratories (search), where he served as Worldwide Head of Late-Stage Development and Worldwide Head of Early Development. In these roles, he had major program responsibilities for the approval of more than 20 novel therapeutics and over 200 successful IND submissions. Earlier in his career, he was Associate Professor of Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Platform Technology and Pipeline Focus
"Septerna has established a truly differentiated approach to GPCR (search) drug discovery through its proprietary Native Complex Platform™, creating significant opportunities to address unmet medical needs across multiple therapeutic areas," said Dr. Gottesdiener. "The company's innovative science and strong clinical pipeline, including the promising PTH1R (search) program for hypoparathyroidism (search), position Septerna well to deliver meaningful therapies for patients."
Septerna's proprietary Native Complex Platform™ is designed to enable new approaches to GPCR (search) drug discovery and has led to the development of a diverse pipeline of novel oral small molecule drug candidates. The company is advancing programs in endocrinology, immunology and inflammation, metabolic diseases and additional therapeutic areas, both independently and with partners.
Educational Background and Board Experience
Dr. Gottesdiener previously served on the board of directors of Intercept Pharmaceuticals (search), Inc. He received his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School and his A.B. in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University.