LB Pharmaceuticals Appoints Susan G. Kozauer, M.D. as Chief Medical Officer

Appointment of an experienced neuropsychiatric drug developer strengthens LB Pharmaceuticals’ clinical leadership ahead of the planned Phase 3 NOVA-2 readout in 2027.

Rhea-AI Summary

LB Pharmaceuticals (LBRX) has appointed Susan G. Kozauer, M.D. as Chief Medical Officer, adding extensive neuropsychiatric drug development experience to its leadership team.

Dr. Kozauer has more than two decades of clinical development expertise from early-stage studies through regulatory approval, including leading U.S. and global late-stage development of CAPLYTA across adult and pediatric indications at Intra-Cellular Therapies. She most recently served as Senior Vice President, Head of Clinical Development at Centessa Pharmaceuticals, and previously held roles at Premier Research and IQVIA, after practicing as a psychiatrist focused on treatment resistant depression. LB Pharmaceuticals highlighted her role as the company advances toward topline results from its Phase 3 NOVA-2 schizophrenia trial, expected in the first half of 2027, and as it develops LB-102 across multiple neuropsychiatric indications.

Market Context

LBRX had a 0.47% pre-headline 24-hour gain; the CMO appointment added senior clinical-development le...

Analysis

LBRX had a 0.47% pre-headline 24-hour gain; the CMO appointment added senior clinical-development leadership as the company advanced its lead program.

Key Figures

Topline results timing: First half of 2027 Development experience: More than two decades

Topline results timing

First half of 2027

Phase 3 NOVA-2 trial in schizophrenia

Development experience

More than two decades

Neuropsychiatric drug development

Key Terms

phase 3, topline results, regulatory approval, treatment resistant depression

4 terms

phase 3 medical

"As we advance toward topline results from our Phase 3 NOVA-2 trial"

Phase 3 is the late-stage clinical testing step for a new drug or medical treatment, where the product is given to large groups of patients to confirm effectiveness, monitor side effects, and compare it to standard care. Successful Phase 3 results are often the final scientific hurdle before regulators decide on approval and market launch—like passing a final exam before graduation—and can sharply change a company's valuation and future revenue prospects.

topline results technical

"advance toward topline results from our Phase 3 NOVA-2 trial"

Topline results are the initial, high-level summary of the most important outcomes from an event such as a clinical trial or a company reporting period — for a drug study this means whether the main goals were met and basic safety info, and for a company it often means headline revenue and profit figures. Investors care because these summaries act like a headline that quickly signals whether prospects have improved or worsened, often driving immediate market reactions before the full details are released.

regulatory approval regulatory

"early-stage clinical studies through regulatory approval"

Regulatory approval is the official permission given by government agencies or authorities that allows a product, service, or business activity to be legally operated or sold. It is important to investors because receiving approval often indicates that a product has been reviewed for safety and compliance, which can influence its success and the company’s prospects in the market. Without this approval, launching or selling certain products may be restricted or prohibited.

treatment resistant depression medical

"special interest in treatment resistant depression"

A form of major depressive disorder that does not improve after trying multiple standard treatments, such as common antidepressant medications or therapy. For investors, it signals a persistent unmet medical need and a larger, more complex market for new drugs, medical devices or specialized services—think of it like a door that won’t open with the usual keys, creating demand for alternative solutions and potentially longer-term healthcare spending.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LB Pharmaceuticals Inc (“LB Pharmaceuticals” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: LBRX), a neuromedicines company dedicated to developing and commercializing high-impact therapies that address the multiple dimensions of underserved brain disorders, today announced the appointment of Susan G. Kozauer, M.D. as Chief Medical Officer.

Dr. Kozauer is a leader in neuropsychiatric drug development with more than two decades of development expertise spanning early-stage clinical studies through regulatory approval. She brings extensive experience across indications such as schizophrenia, mood disorders, and behavioral manifestations of neurodegenerative diseases. During her tenure at Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc., Dr. Kozauer oversaw the clinical development of multiple compounds, including the U.S. and global late-stage development of CAPLYTA (lumateperone) in adult and pediatric indications.

“Susan is a highly accomplished physician-scientist and proven drug developer whose leadership has helped bring transformative therapies to patients across both psychotic and mood disorders,” said Heather Turner, Chief Executive Officer. “We are thrilled to welcome her to LB at a pivotal moment for the company. As we advance toward topline results from our Phase 3 NOVA-2 trial in schizophrenia in the first half of 2027, Susan’s deep clinical, regulatory, and development expertise will be instrumental in shaping our development strategy and furthering our ability to deliver innovative new medicines to patients with serious neuropsychiatric disorders.”

Dr. Kozauer most recently served as Senior Vice President, Head of Clinical Development at Centessa Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, where she led the clinical development and strategy for its orexin agonist portfolio. Prior to that, she was Vice President, Clinical Development at Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson Company, where her work with CAPLYTA in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and pediatric indications resulted in multiple FDA approvals. Earlier in her career, she held clinical development roles of increasing responsibility at Premier Research and IQVIA and was also a practicing psychiatrist with special interest in treatment resistant depression. Dr. Kozauer received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University and a Doctor of Medicine from George Washington University and completed her residency in psychiatry at Georgetown University Hospital.

“I am honored to join the LB Pharmaceuticals team to lead the clinical development of LB-102, an investigational medicine that I believe has great potential to help patients across some of the most underserved neuropsychiatric disorders,” said Susan G. Kozauer, Chief Medical Officer. “I look forward to leveraging my expertise and working with the team, as we prepare for the Phase 3 NOVA-2 readout and advance LB-102 across multiple indications.”

About LB Pharmaceuticals

LB Pharmaceuticals is a neuromedicines company dedicated to developing and commercializing high-impact therapies that address the multiple dimensions of underserved brain disorders. The Company is building a pipeline that leverages the broad therapeutic potential of its lead product candidate, LB-102, which the Company believes has the opportunity to be the first benzamide antipsychotic drug approved for neuropsychiatric disorders in the United States. LB-102, if approved, has the potential to become a mainstay of psychiatric practice by offering a balanced clinical activity and tolerability profile that provides a potentially attractive alternative to branded and generic therapeutics for the treatment of a broad range of neuropsychiatric diseases.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “due,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “positioned,” “potential,” “predict,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the therapeutic benefits of LB-102; the design, objectives, initiation, timing, progress and results of clinical trials of LB-102, including the pivotal Phase 3 NOVA-2 trial; the continuing advancement of LB-102 and the Company’s portfolio. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: the Company’s limited operating history and historical losses; the Company’s ability to raise additional funding to complete the development and any commercialization of LB-102; the Company’s dependence on the success of its lead product candidate, LB-102; the Company’s ability to obtain regulatory approval of and successfully commercialize its product candidate; the early stages of clinical development of the Company’s lead product candidate, LB-102; any undesirable side effects or other properties of the Company’s product candidate; that the Company may be delayed in initiating, enrolling or completing any clinical trials; competition from third parties that are developing products for similar uses; the Company’s ability to obtain, maintain and protect its intellectual property; and the Company’s dependence on third parties in connection with manufacturing, clinical trials and preclinical studies.

These and other risks are described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 and its other documents to be subsequently filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Media and Investor Contact:
Ellen Rose
erose@lbpharma.us