Latus Bio brings on new board leaders as gene therapy trials approach

By Vivian Lin · September 20, 2026, 3:36 PM · Updated: September 20, 2026, 9:25 PM · 3 mins read

Latus Bio has named Donald Hayden as chairman and Michael MacLean as independent director, strengthening its board as the company prepares to start clinical trials for gene therapies targeting CLN2 disease and Huntington’s disease.

Latus Bio has added Donald Hayden as chairman and Michael MacLean as independent director, bringing experienced leadership as the Philadelphia biotech moves from preclinical research into clinical trials.

Hayden, who spent 25 years at Bristol Myers Squibb and served as president of Global Pharmaceuticals, steps in as chairman. He has chaired boards at Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Insmed, REGENXBIO, Amicus Therapeutics, and other biotechs. "With two lead programs advancing into clinical development and a platform built to address a broad range of other disorders, I am honored to join this exceptional team and to help guide the Company through its next phase of growth," Hayden said.

Latus Bio is developing proprietary AAV capsid variants designed for targeted delivery to disease-relevant tissues and cell types at low doses, aiming to improve both efficacy and safety in gene therapy.

MacLean, now chair of the Audit Committee, is known for his financial and deal-making experience. He was most recently chief financial officer at Avidity Biosciences, where he helped lead the company’s $12 billion acquisition by Novartis in 2026. His background includes senior finance roles at Akcea Therapeutics, PureTech Health, and Biogen Idec, as well as board service at Verve Therapeutics through its acquisition by Eli Lilly in 2025. MacLean also sits on the boards of CAMP4 Therapeutics and Research Alliance Corporation III. "The Company is rapidly approaching key clinical inflection points," MacLean said, pointing to the importance of the coming months for Latus Bio.

The timing of these appointments comes as Latus Bio prepares to move its lead gene therapy programs—LTS-101 for CLN2 disease and LTS-201 for Huntington’s disease—into clinical trials. Both are investigational adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapies, using proprietary AAV capsid variants to deliver genetic material to specific tissues and cell types at low doses. The company’s pipeline focuses on genetically defined central nervous system and peripheral disorders, aiming to address diseases with high unmet need and clear genetic causes. According to an official company press release, these board changes are directly tied to the transition of Latus Bio's lead programs into the clinic.

Chief Executive Officer P. Peter Ghoroghchian said Hayden’s experience building and chairing biotech companies, along with MacLean’s operational and financial background, will be important as Latus Bio enters clinical-stage development. The board’s expanded expertise in acquisitions and capital management is expected to help as the company approaches key clinical milestones.

Latus Bio has explicitly identified its lead programs as LTS-101 for CLN2 disease and LTS-201 for Huntington’s disease, both described as investigational AAV gene therapies advancing into clinical trials.
BioAdvanceOfficial Company Press Release

With Hayden and MacLean joining the board, Latus Bio is preparing for the challenges of clinical trials. The company’s decision to bring in experienced board members before dosing its first patient reflects a focus on operational discipline and financial oversight as it works to advance gene therapies for serious genetic diseases.

Topics:

Biotechnology Newsroom

Vivian Lin

Vivian Lin is Biotech Markets & Transactions Editor at GenoMethods, covering licensing agreements, M&A, biotech financing, company pipelines, strategic partnerships and cross-border transactions. Her reporting connects deal structure and company strategy with the scientific and clinical evidence underlying each biotechnology asset.