Fulcrum Therapeutics, Inc. announced the appointment of Patrick Horn, M.D., Ph.D., as chief medical officer, effective immediately. Dr. Horn is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of end-to-end drug development experience spanning multiple therapeutic areas, with an emphasis on rare diseases, across both large pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Interim chief medical officer, Iain Fraser, MBChB, DPhil, will continue to serve on Fulcrum?s executive leadership team as SVP of early development.

Together, Drs. Horn and Fraser will be responsible for leading clinical development and overseeing regulatory strategy and execution. Dr. Patrick Horn is a distinguished professional with over 20 years of experience in the field of rare disease drug development, encompassing all stages from initial research to regulatory approval and commercial launch.

His most recent role was as the Chief Medical Officer at HemoShear Therapeutics, specializing in rare metabolic diseases. Previously, he held the position of Chief Medical Officer at Albireo Pharma where he led the team that achieved marketing approvals in the US and Europe for Bylvay? in progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC). Before his tenure at Albireo, he served as the Senior Vice President of Medical and Clinical Development at Orphan Technologies, directing the advancement of novel treatments for homocystinuria.

Prior to this, he was the Chief Medical Officer at Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, where he oversaw the clinical development of antibiotic candidates, including the program leading to the New Drug Application for eravacycline. Before Tetraphase, Dr. Horn led the clinical program at Dyax Corp. that resulted in the approval of Kalbitor® for the treatment of hereditary angioedema.

Dr. Horn received his M.D., and Ph.D., from the University of Chicago and completed his pediatric residency at Boston Children?s Hospital. Prior to transitioning to industry, Dr. Horn was a practicing pediatrician at major academic institutions in Chicago.