SAN DIEGO — Creyon Bio has appointed seasoned biotech executive Serge Messerlian as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking a significant leadership shift as the company sharpens its strategic focus on advancing RNA-targeted therapies for neuromuscular, central nervous system (CNS), and immunologic diseases.
Messerlian, who has served as Creyon’s Executive Chairman and acting CEO since late 2024, officially steps into the permanent role, bringing with him decades of leadership experience across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. His track record includes executive roles at Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Oncology and Actelion, as well as leadership positions at Baxalta and Baxter International. Throughout his career, he has overseen the development and commercialization of breakthrough therapies in oncology, hematology, immunology, and rare diseases.
As part of the leadership reshuffle, Creyon also announced that Kiersten Stead, Ph.D., co-founder and Managing Partner at DCVC Bio, will join the company’s Board of Directors. Stead’s appointment brings additional venture expertise to Creyon as the company advances its RNA-targeted oligonucleotide therapeutic pipeline, leveraging its proprietary AI-powered oligonucleotide engineering platform.
“With the FDA’s recent commitment to phase out traditional animal testing in favor of new methodologies, Creyon’s technology is well-positioned to lead this next era of drug development,” Messerlian said. He added that the company plans to announce its lead candidate targeting a neuromuscular disease later this year, with clinical development slated to begin in 2026.
Creyon’s platform, which Messerlian described as the first and only AI-driven oligonucleotide engineering engine, is designed to develop safer, more effective, tissue-specific RNA-targeted oligonucleotide therapies. These therapies have the potential to address previously intractable diseases by improving safety profiles, efficacy, and patient adherence. The company’s dual strategy focuses on advancing its own therapeutic pipeline while pursuing collaboration opportunities to apply its technology across broader disease areas.
Messerlian’s leadership comes at a pivotal time for Creyon as it positions itself to expand into clinical trials and partnerships. His experience in company building, strategic collaborations, and therapeutic development is expected to drive Creyon’s next phase of growth.
“Kiersten Stead’s addition to the board further strengthens our leadership,” said Shaq Vayda, Board Member and Principal at Lux Capital. “Her deep experience in scaling biotech ventures and her insights into therapeutic platforms will be invaluable as Creyon advances its mission.”
Stead, whose firm DCVC Bio has been an investor in Creyon since 2020, is known for backing deep-tech therapeutic platforms and holds multiple board roles across biotech startups. Her involvement comes as DCVC Bio recently closed a $400 million fund, underscoring the strong investor confidence in emerging biotech technologies like Creyon’s.
The leadership team, under Messerlian and with Stead’s support, will focus on expanding Creyon’s therapeutic programs across neuromuscular, CNS, and immunologic diseases, aiming to deliver new oligonucleotide therapies to patients with few existing options.
