DaCapo Brainscience, a biotechnology company specializing in neurodegenerative disease therapeutics, today announced the appointment of Leslie Williams as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. The company also named Mridul Mehta, PhD, as Chief Technology Officer and promoted Warren Hirst, PhD, to Chief Scientific Officer. These leadership changes signal a strategic shift as DaCapo transitions from early-stage discovery to clinical development.
Williams brings over two decades of experience in biotech drug development, including leadership roles at companies focused on neurological disorders. She will oversee DaCapo's efforts to advance its proprietary discovery platform, which uses human-based in vitro models to identify small-molecule therapies capable of slowing or halting the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, with an initial focus on Parkinson's disease. The company aims to leverage its platform to uncover new disease pathways and design targeted treatments.
Mridul Mehta, PhD, joins as Chief Technology Officer, bringing expertise in computational biology and high-throughput screening. He will direct the technological evolution of DaCapo's platform, integrating advanced data analysis to enhance drug discovery efficiency. Warren Hirst, PhD, previously Vice President of Research, has been promoted to Chief Scientific Officer. Hirst has been instrumental in developing the company's human-based model system and will now lead the overall scientific strategy.
The appointments come as DaCapo prepares to move its lead Parkinson's disease program toward clinical trials. The company's platform is designed to recapitulate human biology more accurately than traditional animal models, potentially increasing the translatability of preclinical findings to human patients. By combining advanced data analysis with laboratory models, DaCapo aims to identify disease mechanisms and develop therapeutics that modify disease progression.
Leslie Williams stated, “I am honored to lead DaCapo Brainscience at this pivotal stage. Our platform has the potential to transform how we approach neurodegenerative diseases, and I look forward to working with Mridul, Warren, and the entire team to advance our pipeline toward clinical impact.” The company believes that strengthening its executive team will accelerate its mission to deliver disease-modifying therapies for patients with unmet medical needs.
For more details, view the full announcement at https://www.dacapobrain.com/news. Additional information about the company and its leadership can be found on the DaCapo Brainscience website.
