Denali Therapeutics Announces Board and Executive Leadership Updates

Rhea-AI Summary

Denali Therapeutics (NASDAQ: DNLI) announced board and executive leadership changes on November 6, 2025. Tim Van Hauwermeiren, co‑founder and CEO of argenx, was appointed to Denali’s Board of Directors. Carole Ho, M.D., who served as Denali’s Chief Medical Officer and Head of Development since 2015, will depart to join Eli Lilly as Executive Vice President and President of Lilly Neuroscience. Peter Chin, M.D., a neurologist who joined Denali in 2019, will serve as Acting Chief Medical Officer and Head of Development. Dr. Ho will transition responsibilities to Dr. Chin through late November 2025. The announcement notes the company’s recent filing of a Biologics License Application for tividenofusp alfa for Hunter syndrome.

Positive

• Board adds experienced commercial biopharma CEO Tim Van Hauwermeiren
• Acting CMO Peter Chin appointed with Denali tenure since 2019
• BLA filing for tividenofusp alfa for Hunter syndrome noted

Negative

• Long‑tenured CMO Carole Ho departing after serving since 2015

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Nov. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Denali Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: DNLI) today announced updates to its Board of Directors and executive leadership team.

Tim Van Hauwermeiren has been appointed to Denali’s Board of Directors. Mr. Van Hauwermeiren is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of argenx. Carole Ho, M.D., who has served as Denali’s Chief Medical Officer and Head of Development since 2015, will be departing to join Eli Lilly and Company as Executive Vice President, and President of Lilly Neuroscience. Peter Chin, M.D., is assuming the role of Acting Chief Medical Officer and Head of Development at Denali. Dr. Chin is a neurologist and joined Denali in 2019, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of the Enzyme TransportVehicle™ (ETV) Franchise and Late-Stage Clinical Development.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tim to our Board of Directors. His rare combination of scientific insight, commercial acumen and leadership experience in successfully scaling a biotech organization from founding to commercial success will be invaluable as we continue to grow and advance towards the potential approval and launch of our first product,” said Ryan Watts, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Denali Therapeutics. “I also want to express our deep gratitude to Carole for her many contributions over the past decade. In collaboration with Carole, Peter has played a key role in building our clinical development organization and leading the filing of our first Biologics License Application for tividenofusp alfa for Hunter syndrome. We are confident that Peter’s proven expertise will ensure a seamless transition and continued focus on delivering transformative medicines to patients.”

“I am honored to join Denali as the team prepares for commercialization of its first medicine and advances its TransportVehicle (TV) platform, which has the potential to transform the way we deliver biologics to the entire body, including the brain,” said Mr. Van Hauwermeiren. “I have seen firsthand how strategic focus, operational excellence and a patient-centric mindset enables a successful transition from a clinical-stage to a commercial-stage company. I look forward to working with the Denali leadership team and Board to help unlock the full potential of the TV platform.”

“It has been a privilege to work alongside the talented team at Denali over the past decade and to contribute to our shared purpose of developing transformative therapies,” said Dr. Ho. “I am very proud of what we have achieved together from advancing our therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier to building a clinical-stage portfolio. Having partnered with Peter throughout much of my time at Denali, I know his deep development expertise and leadership will continue to guide the company toward making a difference for individuals and their families living with serious diseases.”

“I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me to lead our Development organization at this important time for Denali,” said Dr. Chin. “I look forward to working with our dedicated teams, clinicians, advocates and regulators to advance our broad portfolio of programs and drive forward meaningful outcomes for patients.”

Dr. Ho will transition her responsibilities to Dr. Chin through late November 2025.

About Tim Van Hauwermeiren

Tim Van Hauwermeiren co-founded argenx in 2008 and, as its Chief Executive Officer, has guided the company from a nascent antibody-engineering start-up into a global commercial immunology business. He brings more than two decades of leadership experience in the life sciences and consumer-goods sectors, including roles at Ablynx and Procter & Gamble, with deep expertise in general management and business development. Mr. Van Hauwermeiren holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in bioengineering from Ghent University and an Executive MBA from The Vlerick School of Management. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Lexeo Therapeutics, Inc.

About Peter Chin, M.D.

Peter Chin, M.D., is Acting Chief Medical Officer and Head of Development at Denali Therapeutics. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of the ETV Franchise and Late-Stage Clinical Development at Denali. Since joining Denali in 2019, Dr. Chin has led global late-stage clinical programs, clinical outcomes research and drug safety, overseeing pivotal studies across multiple therapeutic areas. He has played a key role in building Denali’s medical affairs infrastructure and ensuring operational readiness for late-stage and commercial programs. Prior to Denali, Dr. Chin held senior positions at Genentech and Novartis, focusing on advancing therapies for neurodegenerative, neuroinflammatory and rare diseases. He earned his M.D. from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.

About Denali Therapeutics

Denali Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing a broad portfolio of product candidates engineered to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and lysosomal storage diseases. Denali pursues new treatments by rigorously assessing genetically validated targets, engineering delivery across the BBB, and guiding development through biomarkers that demonstrate target and pathway engagement. Denali is based in South San Francisco. For additional information, please visit www.denalitherapeutics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements expressed or implied in this press release include the timing and occurrence of any future personnel changes; plans relating to tividenofusp alfa and the advancement of Denali’s programs; and statements made by Dr. Watts, Mr. Van Hauwermeiren, Dr. Ho and Dr. Chin. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks that the PDUFA action date may be extended and the FDA may ultimately determine not to approve the BLA in its present form or at all; risks arising from adverse economic conditions and their impact on Denali’s business and operations; the possibility of events or changes that could lead to the termination of Denali’s collaboration agreements; challenges associated with Denali’s transition to a late-stage clinical drug development company; the ability of Denali and its collaborators to complete the development and, if approved, the commercialization of product candidates; difficulties in patient enrollment for ongoing and future clinical trials; reliance on third-party manufacturers and suppliers for clinical trial materials; dependence on the successful development of Denali’s blood-brain barrier platform technology and related programs; potential delays or failures in meeting expected clinical trial timelines; the risk that promising preclinical profiles may not be replicated in clinical settings; discrepancies between preclinical, early-stage, or preliminary clinical results and outcomes from later-stage trials; the occurrence of significant adverse events or other undesirable side effects; and the uncertainty surrounding regulatory approvals required for commercialization; Denali’s ability to advance a pipeline of product candidates or develop commercially successful products; developments relating to Denali's competitors and its industry, including competing product candidates and therapies; Denali’s ability to obtain, maintain, or protect intellectual property rights related to its product candidates; implementation of Denali’s strategic plans for its business, product candidates, and blood-brain barrier platform technology; Denali's ability to obtain additional capital to finance its operations, as needed; Denali's ability to accurately forecast future financial results in the current environment; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in Denali's most recent Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 27, 2025 and August 11, 2025, respectively, and Denali’s future reports to be filed with the SEC. Denali's product candidates are investigational, and their safety and efficacy profiles have not yet been established. No Denali product candidates have been approved by any Health Authority for any use. Denali does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, to conform these statements to actual results or to make changes in Denali’s expectations, except as required by law.

Investor Contact: Laura Hansen, Ph.D. Investor Relations hansen@dnli.com

Media Contact: Erin Patton Corporate Communications epatton@dnli.com

FAQ

Who joined Denali Therapeutics Board on November 6, 2025 (DNLI)?

Tim Van Hauwermeiren, co‑founder and CEO of argenx, was appointed to Denali’s board.

Why is Denali changing its chief medical officer (DNLI) in November 2025?

Carole Ho is departing to join Eli Lilly as Executive Vice President and President of Lilly Neuroscience; Peter Chin is acting CMO.

When will Carole Ho transition CMO duties at Denali (DNLI)?

Carole Ho will transition responsibilities to Peter Chin through late November 2025.

What is Peter Chin’s role and background at Denali (DNLI)?

Peter Chin is Acting Chief Medical Officer and previously led the ETV franchise and late‑stage clinical development; he joined Denali in 2019.

Does the announcement mention any regulatory filings for Denali (DNLI)?

Yes; the announcement references the Biologics License Application filing for tividenofusp alfa for Hunter syndrome.