Inventiva Appoints Chris Benecchi as Chief Operating Officer Ahead of Pivotal MASH Phase 3 Readout
核心洞察
Inventiva appointed Chris Benecchi as Chief Operating Officer to lead operational readiness ahead of the NATiV3 Phase 3 topline results for lanifibranor in MASH, expected in Q4 2026.
Mr. Benecchi brings 30 years of biopharmaceutical leadership experience, most recently serving as CEO of Motric Bio, with prior launch roles at Sage Therapeutics, UCB, and Alexion.
Inventiva anticipates a potential U.S. launch of lanifibranor, subject to regulatory approval, in 2028, and is building commercial capabilities to support it.
Inventiva (Euronext Paris and NASDAQ: IVA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing an oral therapy for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (搜索) (MASH), announced the appointment of Chris Benecchi as Chief Operating Officer. The announcement, made on August 31, 2026 from Daix, France and New York City, positions Mr. Benecchi to lead the Company's operational readiness as it approaches the pivotal NATiV3 Phase 3 topline study results of lanifibranor in MASH, expected in Q4 2026, and prepares for potential commercialization.
A Strategic Appointment Ahead of a Pivotal Readout
Mr. Benecchi is described as a proven biopharmaceutical leader with extensive experience in building organizations, preparing medicines for launch, and integrating cross-functional operations. His appointment comes at what Inventiva's leadership characterizes as a defining moment for the Company.
"This is a defining moment for Inventiva. We believe lanifibranor, if approved, has the potential to offer a differentiated approach for the treatment of MASH," said Andrew Obenshain, Chief Executive Officer of Inventiva. "As we approach our Phase 3 readout, we are preparing the Company for the next stage of its evolution. Chris brings a valuable combination of commercial, operational and launch experience, with a proven track record of helping organizations bring promising medicines to patients."
Mr. Benecchi echoed this focus on launch readiness, stating: "Leveraging the strong scientific foundation and the opportunity to address unmet patient needs, I am joining Inventiva with a clear mandate to build the organization and capabilities needed to prepare for the potential launch of lanifibranor and to position the Company for sustainable long-term success. We believe lanifibranor is poised to meaningfully impact the current treatment paradigm in MASH."
Commercialization Timeline and Market Opportunity
With a potential U.S. launch of lanifibranor, subject to regulatory approval, anticipated in 2028, Inventiva is strategically building the organization, infrastructure, and commercial capabilities needed to support a successful launch and long-term market adoption. Mr. Obenshain noted that Mr. Benecchi's experience "is particularly relevant to the opportunity in the dynamic MASH market."
Leadership Background
Mr. Benecchi brings 30 years of biopharmaceutical leadership across commercial, operational, and enterprise roles, with a track record of building organizations, preparing innovative investigational medicines for launch, and leading cross-functional execution in competitive and access-challenged markets.
Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Motric Bio (an Aditum Bio company). Prior to that, at Sage Therapeutics, he held Chief Operating Officer, Chief Business Officer, and Chief Commercial Officer roles, where he played a central role in the U.S. launch of ZURZUVAE and in the company's corporate strategy and operations. Earlier in his career, he led global launch readiness for UCB's BIMZELX (bimekizumab) and, at Alexion, directed global commercial excellence and launch readiness across a portfolio of rare-disease therapies, with earlier commercial leadership roles at Acorda Therapeutics, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and Johnson & Johnson.
Mr. Benecchi holds an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and a BA from Colby College.
About Lanifibranor and Inventiva
Inventiva is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of an orally administered small molecule for the treatment of patients with MASH. The Company is currently evaluating lanifibranor, a novel pan-PPAR (搜索) agonist, in the NATiV3 pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of adult patients with MASH, a common and progressive chronic liver disease.
Lanifibranor is an investigational medicine and has not been approved for use by any regulatory authority. Its safety and efficacy have not been established. Inventiva is a public company listed on compartment B of the regulated market of Euronext Paris (ticker: IVA, ISIN: FR0013233012) and on the Nasdaq Global Market in the United States (ticker: IVA).