MeiraGTx Expands Leadership Team with Appointment of Robert K. Zeldin, M.D. as Chief Medical Officer

LONDON and NEW YORK, Aug. 05, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MeiraGTx Holdings plc (Nasdaq: MGTX), a vertically integrated, clinical stage gene therapy company, today announced the appointment of Robert K. Zeldin, M.D. as chief medical officer (CMO).

A clinical immunologist by training, Dr. Zeldin brings more than 20 years of clinical, regulatory and industry experience to MeiraGTx, ranging from early-stage clinical development through Biologics License Application (BLA) filing and commercialization.

“Dr. Zeldin is an experienced drug developer with a distinguished track record in the design and implementation of successful clinical development strategies,” said Alexandria Forbes, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of MeiraGTx. “As we advance the MeiraGTx pipeline into late-stage development we are delighted to add Dr. Zeldin to our senior management team.”

Prior to joining MeiraGTx, Dr. Zeldin was CMO of Immunovant. Previously, he was CMO of Acceleron Pharma where he was instrumental in the preparation of the BLA for luspatercept which has been approved in the U.S. and Europe for the treatment of anemia associated with myelodysplastic syndromes and anemia associated with beta thalassemia. Prior to Acceleron, he was CMO of Belgium-based Ablynx NV, where he directed the Phase 3 development program and regulatory filings of caplacizumab, which has been approved for the treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in the U.S. and Europe. Dr. Zeldin also served as Senior Vice President and Head of Global Clinical Development at Stallergenes SA and Vice President and U.S. Medical Franchise Head – Respiratory and Dermatology at Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Earlier in his career, Dr. Zeldin spent seven years at Merck in increasingly strategic roles in worldwide regulatory affairs and clinical development. Prior to his work in industry, Dr. Zeldin served as a Medical Officer at the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. He also spent several years in clinical practice.

“I look forward to working with MeiraGTx to bring innovative gene therapy treatments to patients with severe diseases who today have no treatment options,” said Dr. Zeldin. “I am excited to join the MeiraGTx team at this important juncture as we prepare to initiate the Company’s first pivotal trial.”

Dr. Zeldin holds a B.A. with honors from the Johns Hopkins University and a M.D. from Tufts University School of Medicine. His postdoctoral training included Residency in Internal Medicine at the University Health Center of Pittsburgh and Fellowship in Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.