Aclaris Therapeutics Announces Leadership Transition
Aclaris Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ACRS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has announced a significant leadership transition in its scientific team. Roland Kolbeck, Ph.D. has been appointed as the new Chief Scientific Officer, succeeding Joe Monahan, Ph.D., who will transition to a Special Scientific Advisor role through Q1 2026 as part of his planned retirement.
Dr. Kolbeck brings nearly 30 years of senior R&D leadership experience, most recently serving as CSO at Spirovant Sciences. His notable achievements include his role as VP and Head of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmune Research at MedImmune, where six monoclonal antibodies from his portfolio received FDA approval. The transition comes as Aclaris continues to develop its portfolio of immuno-inflammatory product candidates, including next-generation kinase inhibitors and first-in-class bispecific antibodies.
Aclaris Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ACRS), un'azienda biofarmaceutica in fase clinica, ha annunciato un importante cambiamento nella sua squadra scientifica. Roland Kolbeck, Ph.D. è stato nominato nuovo Chief Scientific Officer, succedendo a Joe Monahan, Ph.D., che assumerà il ruolo di Consulente Scientifico Speciale fino al primo trimestre del 2026, nell'ambito del suo pensionamento programmato.
Il dottor Kolbeck vanta quasi 30 anni di esperienza nella leadership R&D senior, avendo ricoperto recentemente il ruolo di CSO presso Spirovant Sciences. Tra i suoi successi più rilevanti vi è la posizione di VP e Responsabile della Ricerca su Malattie Respiratorie, Infiammazioni e Autoimmuni presso MedImmune, dove sei anticorpi monoclonali del suo portafoglio hanno ottenuto l'approvazione FDA. Questa transizione avviene mentre Aclaris continua a sviluppare il suo portafoglio di candidati farmaci immuno-infiammatori, inclusi inibitori di chinasi di nuova generazione e anticorpi bispecifici di prima classe.
Aclaris Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ACRS), una compañía biofarmacéutica en etapa clínica, ha anunciado una importante transición en su equipo científico. Roland Kolbeck, Ph.D. ha sido nombrado nuevo Director Científico, reemplazando a Joe Monahan, Ph.D., quien asumirá el rol de Asesor Científico Especial hasta el primer trimestre de 2026 como parte de su jubilación planificada.
El Dr. Kolbeck aporta casi 30 años de experiencia en liderazgo senior de I+D, habiendo sido recientemente CSO en Spirovant Sciences. Entre sus logros destacados está su cargo como vicepresidente y jefe de investigación en Respiratorio, Inflamación y Enfermedades Autoinmunes en MedImmune, donde seis anticuerpos monoclonales de su cartera recibieron aprobación de la FDA. Esta transición ocurre mientras Aclaris continúa desarrollando su cartera de candidatos a productos inmuno-inflamatorios, incluidos inhibidores de quinasas de nueva generación y anticuerpos bispecíficos de primera clase.
Aclaris Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ACRS)는 임상 단계의 바이오제약 회사로, 과학 팀의 중대한 리더십 변화를 발표했습니다. 롤랜드 콜벡 박사가 새로운 최고 과학 책임자(CSO)로 임명되었으며, 조 모나한 박사는 계획된 은퇴에 따라 2026년 1분기까지 특별 과학 고문 역할로 전환할 예정입니다.
콜벡 박사는 거의 30년간의 고위 연구개발 리더십 경험을 보유하고 있으며, 최근에는 Spirovant Sciences의 CSO로 근무했습니다. 그의 주요 성과로는 MedImmune에서 호흡기, 염증 및 자가면역 연구 부문 부사장 겸 책임자로서 여섯 개의 단클론 항체가 FDA 승인을 받은 점이 있습니다. 이번 리더십 전환은 Aclaris가 차세대 키나제 억제제 및 최초의 이중특이성 항체를 포함한 면역염증 제품 후보군 개발을 계속하는 가운데 이루어졌습니다.
Aclaris Therapeutics (NASDAQ : ACRS), une société biopharmaceutique en phase clinique, a annoncé une transition importante au sein de son équipe scientifique. Roland Kolbeck, Ph.D. a été nommé nouveau Chief Scientific Officer, succédant à Joe Monahan, Ph.D., qui assumera un rôle de conseiller scientifique spécial jusqu'au premier trimestre 2026 dans le cadre de sa retraite planifiée.
Le Dr Kolbeck apporte près de 30 ans d'expérience en direction R&D senior, ayant récemment occupé le poste de CSO chez Spirovant Sciences. Parmi ses réalisations notables figure son rôle de vice-président et responsable de la recherche en maladies respiratoires, inflammation et auto-immunité chez MedImmune, où six anticorps monoclonaux de son portefeuille ont reçu l'approbation de la FDA. Cette transition intervient alors qu'Aclaris poursuit le développement de son portefeuille de candidats produits immuno-inflammatoires, incluant des inhibiteurs de kinase de nouvelle génération et des anticorps bispécifiques de première classe.
Aclaris Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ACRS), ein biopharmazeutisches Unternehmen in der klinischen Entwicklungsphase, hat eine bedeutende Führungsänderung in seinem wissenschaftlichen Team bekannt gegeben. Roland Kolbeck, Ph.D. wurde zum neuen Chief Scientific Officer ernannt und tritt die Nachfolge von Joe Monahan, Ph.D. an, der im Rahmen seines geplanten Ruhestands bis zum ersten Quartal 2026 als Special Scientific Advisor tätig sein wird.
Dr. Kolbeck verfügt über fast 30 Jahre Erfahrung in leitenden Positionen im Bereich Forschung und Entwicklung und war zuletzt CSO bei Spirovant Sciences. Zu seinen bemerkenswerten Erfolgen zählt seine Tätigkeit als Vizepräsident und Leiter der Forschung für Atemwegserkrankungen, Entzündungen und Autoimmunerkrankungen bei MedImmune, wo sechs monoklonale Antikörper aus seinem Portfolio die FDA-Zulassung erhielten. Der Führungswechsel erfolgt, während Aclaris weiterhin sein Portfolio an immun-entzündlichen Produktkandidaten entwickelt, darunter Kinaseinhibitoren der nächsten Generation und erstmalige bispezifische Antikörper.
- None.
- Loss of long-term scientific leader as Dr. Monahan moves toward retirement
- Roland Kolbeck, Ph.D. Appointed as Chief Scientific Officer -
- Joe Monahan, Ph.D. will Continue to Support Aclaris as Special Scientific Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer through March 2026 as Part of Planned Retirement -
WAYNE, Pa., July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACRS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel product candidates for immuno-inflammatory diseases, today announced that Roland Kolbeck, Ph.D. has been appointed as Chief Scientific Officer, replacing Joe Monahan, Ph.D. who will remain with the Company as Special Scientific Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer through the first quarter of 2026 as part of his planned retirement. Dr. Kolbeck’s extensive experience in areas including inflammation and antibody development will be important as the Company develops its growing portfolio of immuno-inflammatory product candidates, including its next generation kinase and cytokine signaling pathway inhibitors and potential first-in-class bispecific antibodies.
“On behalf of the executive team, I’m glad to welcome Roland to Aclaris as our incoming Chief Scientific Officer,” said Dr. Neal Walker, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Directors of Aclaris. “His reputation as an inspirational scientific leader is unmatched, as is his expertise stemming from his time leading Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmune (RIA) research at MedImmune. This expertise will be important to the Company as we progress.”
Dr. Walker continued, “I also thank Joe for his steady leadership and dedication to scientific excellence. He has been central to Aclaris’ resilience and evolution, including successfully building a renowned discovery team in St. Louis that we expect to continue to fuel the Company’s pipeline. Joe will remain heavily involved with Aclaris as a scientific advisor during this transitional period as he moves toward retirement in 2026.”
“Under Joe’s leadership, Aclaris has developed world-class expertise in kinase small molecule discovery, including a proprietary development platform that is expected to deliver new INDs starting as soon as next year,” said Dr. Kolbeck. “The Company has a growing pipeline of small and large molecules and the experience to lead therapeutic innovation in I&I – along with the cash reserves needed to accomplish its goals. This is a great time to join the Aclaris team, and I look forward to contributing to the Company’s continued success.”
Roland Kolbeck, Ph.D., brings nearly three decades of senior R&D leadership in small and large biopharmaceutical companies and a proven track record of successful drug development to Aclaris. He joins the team from Spirovant Sciences, where he served as Chief Scientific Officer and directed the company’s strategy related to new indications, targets, and investments. Previously, Dr. Kolbeck was Vice President, Head of Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmune Research (RIA) at MedImmune, AstraZeneca’s global biologics organization, where he provided strategic direction as Chair of the RIA Research Committee and as a member of the Research Leadership Team and Early-Stage Portfolio Committee. Six monoclonal antibodies originating from the RIA portfolio have since been approved by the FDA. Prior to Medimmune, he served in senior scientific roles at Peptimmune and Millennium Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Kolbeck has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals such as Nature, Immunity and New England Journal of Medicine. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. at the University of Regensburg and Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology (now the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence), in Munich, Germany.
About Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.
Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of novel product candidates to address the needs of patients with immuno-inflammatory diseases who lack satisfactory treatment options. The company has a multi-stage portfolio of product candidates powered by a robust R&D engine. For additional information, please visit www.aclaristx.com and follow Aclaris on X (formerly Twitter) at @AclarisTx and on LinkedIn.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “will,” and similar expressions, and are based on Aclaris’ current beliefs and expectations. These forward-looking statements include expectations regarding the Company’s pipeline, including that the discovery platform will expand the Company’s pipeline, the potential to have first-in-class bispecific antibodies, that new INDs will be filed in 2026, that the Company has the cash reserves it needs to accomplish its goals, and regarding the future contributions of Dr. Kolbeck. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially include uncertainties inherent in the conduct of clinical trials, Aclaris’ reliance on third parties over which it may not always have full control, Aclaris’ ability to enter into strategic partnerships on commercially reasonable terms, the uncertainty regarding the macroeconomic environment and other risks and uncertainties that are described in the Risk Factors section of Aclaris’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and other filings Aclaris makes with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. These documents are available under the “SEC Filings” page of the “Investors” section of Aclaris’ website at www.aclaristx.com. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information available to Aclaris as of the date of this release, and Aclaris assumes no obligation to, and does not intend to, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Aclaris Therapeutics Contact:
Will Roberts
Senior Vice President
Corporate Communications and Investor Relations
(484) 329-2125
wroberts@aclaristx.com
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