Formation Bio, the AI-native pharmaceutical company advancing a new model for drug development, has strengthened its senior leadership with four high-profile appointments: Louis Brenner, MD, as chief medical officer; Daniel Neil, PhD, as chief technology officer; and Frank D’Amelio and Dashyant Dhanak, PhD, as strategic advisors and members of the investment advisory committee. These additions join the company’s existing leadership in guiding decisions on drug licensing and acquisition.

Together, the new leaders bring decades of experience from companies including Pfizer, BenevolentAI, Incyte, Janssen, GSK, and multiple innovative biotechs. Louis Brenner has advanced first-in-class and best-in-class medicines through development, approval, and commercialisation, most recently as president and CEO of Hopewell Therapeutics and previously at Allena Pharmaceuticals. At Formation Bio, he will oversee the clinical-stage portfolio and future acquisitions, applying his experience in advancing Phase 2 and 3 assets and strategic transactions.

Daniel Neil joins as chief technology officer with deep expertise in AI and machine learning for drug discovery. He previously led AI and data science teams at Tessera Therapeutics and BenevolentAI, guiding technology strategy, building scalable systems that meet FDA and GxP standards, and publishing extensively in machine learning and neuroscience. At Formation Bio, Neil will continue to evolve the company’s AI platform to accelerate clinical success.

Frank D’Amelio and Dashyant Dhanak provide strategic and scientific guidance through the investment advisory committee. D’Amelio, former CFO and executive VP at Pfizer, oversaw multiple transformative acquisitions and global operations, including COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing. He highlighted Formation Bio’s “NewCo model” as a way to accelerate promising assets while preserving safety and efficacy standards. Dhanak brings over 30 years of drug discovery experience, including senior roles at Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Incyte, and Janssen, driving innovative programs across multiple therapeutic areas.

Formation Bio has built an AI-integrated model for acquiring and advancing high-potential assets that other companies may deprioritise. Its platform identifies promising candidates, optimises program design, and streamlines clinical trials. The company recently added a new asset targeting autoimmune diseases and announced an out-licensing deal valued at up to €545M in upfront, development, and commercial milestones plus royalties. Formation Bio plans to expand to 10–15 assets over the next 3–5 years.

Benjamine Liu, co-founder and CEO, said: “Each of these leaders brings unique experience across drug hunting, AI, deal-making, and scientific development that will meaningfully contribute to our mission to bring transformative drugs to patients.”