89Bio (NASDAQ:ETNB) announced the appointment of Francis Sarena as chief operating officer, effective August 5, 2024.
Mr. Sarena brings 25 years of biotech industry experience to his new role at 89bio. Prior to joining the company, he was president and COO of Apexigen, where he played a key role in the company’s acquisition of Pyxis Oncology.
In a statement, Rohan Palekar, CEO of 89bio, said, “As we advance our Phase 3 clinical program for pegozafermin and prepare for scale-up, Francis’ extensive strategic, operational, business development, and leadership expertise will be immensely valuable. His proven track record in navigating companies through value inflections and various stages of development and growth will be instrumental as 89bio advances pegozafermin, and prepares for potential regulatory filings and commercialization. We look forward to collaborating with him to meet the urgent needs of patients, capture the substantial market opportunities ahead, and plan for the potential next stages of the company’s growth.”
“I am honored to join the 89bio team at such a pivotal time in the company’s journey,” Mr. Sarena said. “I am eager to help deliver on the promise of pegozafermin, a potentially best-in-class FGF21 that has shown impressive clinical results.”
