Yumanity Therapeutics announced the appointment of accomplished physician, scientist, and industry veteran Richard Peters, M.D., Ph.D., as chief executive officer (CEO). Dr. Peters will also become a member of the company's board of directors. He is succeeding founding CEO Tony Coles, M.D., who will transition to the role of executive chairperson of the board of directors.

The appointment will take effect on September 3, 2019. Peters is a veteran life sciences executive with more than 25 years of experience developing new therapies for difficult-to-treat diseases in a variety of industry, medical, and academic settings. Dr. Peters is joining Yumanity Therapeutics from Merrimack Pharmaceuticals where he served as its president, chief executive officer, and a member of the board of directors.

Prior to joining Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Peters served as global head of rare diseases and senior vice president at Genzyme (Sanofi).