LEXINGTON, Mass.– Fractyl Health, a metabolic therapeutics company focused on pioneering new approaches to the treatment of metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity, proudly announces the appointment of Dr. Timothy Kieffer as its Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Kieffer’s unparalleled expertise in gut and pancreas biology and the development of gene and cell therapies for diabetes will further bolster Fractyl Health’s vision of reshaping diabetes care and metabolic health.
Previously, as the Chief Scientific Officer at ViaCyte Inc., a company at the forefront of stem cell-derived treatments for diabetes, Dr. Kieffer played a pivotal role in advancing the firm’s scientific strategy. His leadership and innovative mindset were instrumental in guiding ViaCyte towards its successful acquisition by Vertex Pharmaceuticals in 2022.
“I’m thrilled to be able to work with Dr. Kieffer to advance our scientific programs at Fractyl Health. He is a globally recognized academic leader in gut biology and pancreatic gene therapy, and has been a trusted advisor for several years,” said Harith Rajagopalan, MD, PHD, CEO of Fractyl Health. “Tim’s experience as a scientific visionary and his passion for translational medicine will be invaluable as we push T2D and obesity from management toward prevention and remission.”
Dr. Kieffer has dedicated his career to advancing therapies that can change the lives of people with diabetes. As a leader of the Life Sciences Institute’s Diabetes Research Group and a professor at the University of British Columbia, his commitment to translating scientific discoveries to patient benefits has led to groundbreaking research and the development of novel modalities of treatment in diabetes. Taking his experience from academia to industry and now to Fractyl Health, Dr. Kieffer embodies a holistic understanding of the journey from research to real-world application.
Upon his appointment, Dr. Kieffer said, “The opportunity to work with the team at Fractyl Health is an exciting chapter in my mission to deliver transformative solutions to patients with metabolic diseases. Fractyl’s approach to addressing root causes of metabolic diseases is important and necessary, and I am thrilled to contribute to a vision that seeks not just treatment but potentially disease eradication.”
