BOSTON — PureTech Health plc has announced the formation of Celea Therapeutics, a new company focused on developing therapies for severe respiratory illnesses, with former Teva North America CEO Sven Dethlefs, PhD, appointed as chief executive.
Celea’s lead drug candidate, deupirfenidone (LYT-100), is Phase 3-ready and being advanced for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a rare, progressive, and often fatal lung disease. The therapy also shows potential across multiple fibrotic and inflammatory lung conditions.
“Bringing meaningful innovation to patients with serious diseases has been a consistent theme throughout my career, and I believe deupirfenidone has the potential to be a true turning point in the treatment of IPF,” Dethlefs said. “Our Phase 2b data demonstrated the potential for best-in-class efficacy with a favorable safety and tolerability profile—addressing two of the most critical limitations of current therapies.”
Dethlefs, who has more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, has led the deupirfenidone program at PureTech for over a year. His career includes senior roles at Teva, where he oversaw an $8 billion portfolio and played a key role in the launch of AUSTEDO®, as well as earlier work at McKinsey & Company.
PureTech completed a Phase 2b trial of deupirfenidone in December 2024 and expects to meet with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the end of the third quarter of 2025 to discuss trial results and Phase 3 plans. The company said it will seek third-party funding to advance the program through late-stage development and possible commercialization.
Robert Lyne, PureTech’s interim CEO, called the launch of Celea “an important value driver” for the company. “Sven brings deep experience in respiratory medicine and a strong track record of commercial success… He is uniquely suited to lead Celea and advance this important program,” Lyne said.
PureTech said the move aligns with its strategy of advancing programs through focused, capital-efficient structures with experienced leadership at the helm.
