Creyon Bio has appointed biotech and pharma veteran Serge Messerlian as chief executive officer, as the company prepares to enter clinical development of its lead neuromuscular disease candidate in 2026.

Messerlian, who joined the company’s board as executive chairman and acting CEO in late 2024, brings leadership experience from roles at Teon Therapeutics, Janssen Oncology, Actelion, Baxalta, and Baxter International. He has overseen drug development and commercialization across hematology, oncology, immunology, and rare diseases, and helped lead business development and M&A activities at multibillion-dollar operations.

Creyon is developing what it calls the first AI-powered oligonucleotide engineering platform, designed to create tissue-specific, RNA-targeted oligos that aim to improve safety, efficacy and patient outcomes. The company says its platform is well-positioned to support next-generation drug development approaches, particularly in light of the FDA’s shift away from mandatory animal testing.

Messerlian said Creyon would pursue a dual strategy of developing its internal therapeutic pipeline while exploring strategic collaborations across additional disease areas.

The company also announced that Kiersten Stead, co-founder and managing partner at DCVC Bio, has joined the board. DCVC Bio has been an investor in Creyon since 2020 and recently closed a $400 million third fund. Stead, a scientist-investor with experience in deep-tech therapeutics, serves on multiple life sciences boards and has co-founded several biotech ventures.

Shaq Vayda, principal at Lux Capital and Creyon board member, said Messerlian’s leadership would be instrumental in advancing the company’s programs and forming strategic alliances in neuromuscular, CNS, and immunologic diseases.