Altimmune Appoints Christophe Arbet-Engels, M.D., Ph.D. As Chief Medical Officer Effective To Lead Clinical Development of Pemvidutide

Altimmune, Inc., a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel peptide-based therapeutics for liver and cardiometabolic diseases, has announced the appointment of Christophe Arbet-Engels, M.D., Ph.D., as Chief Medical Officer, effective October 1, 2025. Dr. Arbet-Engels brings over 30 years of experience across industry, academia, and private practice, and will oversee the ongoing clinical development of pemvidutide, including the planned Phase 3 trial in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). 

He succeeds Scott Harris, M.D., who announced earlier this year his intention to retire from the role. Dr. Harris will remain with the company as a Senior Strategic Advisor until February 2026. Dr. Arbet-Engels joins Altimmune from X4 Pharmaceuticals, where he served as Chief Medical Officer since 2023. During his tenure, he played a key role in the regulatory approval of Xolremdi (mavorixafor) for WHIM Syndrome in 2024 and led late-stage clinical programs for mavorixafor in Chronic Neutropenia.

Prior to X4 Pharmaceuticals, he held Chief Medical Officer positions at Neurogastrx, Millendo Therapeutics, and Poxel Pharmaceuticals, where he led clinical development and secured the approval of Twymeeg for diabetes in Japan. Earlier in his career, Dr. Arbet-Engels held senior medical and clinical leadership roles at Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Hoffmann-La Roche, Merck Research Laboratories, Aventis Pharmaceuticals, and Ligand Pharmaceuticals. In these positions, he directed clinical development, product registration, launch, and lifecycle management for a variety of therapies, including LANTUS® and JARDIANCE®.

Vipin K. Garg, Ph.D., President and CEO of Altimmune, stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Christophe to the team at this crucial juncture in Altimmune’s evolution. He brings a wealth of experience across mid- and late-stage clinical development, regulatory approvals and commercial launches that will be invaluable as we continue to advance pemvidutide and work toward our mission of establishing a new standard of care in the treatment of hepato-metabolic disorders. On behalf of the executive team and Board of Directors, I would also like to thank Scott for his instrumental contributions over the last six years. His oversight of the pemvidutide program through multiple INDs and clinical trials has positioned us well as we prepare to enter Phase 3 development in MASH.”

Dr. Arbet-Engels also added, “I am proud to join the talented leadership team at Altimmune and excited to lead the development of a therapy as promising as pemvidutide. The data generated to date reinforces the highly differentiated profile of pemvidutide as well as its category-leading potential in MASH. With upcoming 48 week data from the IMPACT trial in MASH, as well as the ongoing Phase 2 trials in Alcohol Use Disorder and Alcohol-associated Liver Disease, pemvidutide presents an exciting opportunity to disrupt the treatment paradigm in three highly prevalent indications and potentially address multiple significant unmet medical needs. I look forward to working closely with Vipin and the rest of the team as we advance to the End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA and continue working toward the initiation of the Phase 3 trial in MASH.”

In addition to his industry experience, Dr. Arbet-Engels has held academic roles at The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, University of Paris VI, and the Assistance Publique, Hospitals of Paris. He currently serves as a Member of the Board of Tutors in Biochemical Sciences at Harvard University. He earned his MD and PhD in internal medicine and endocrinology/metabolism from the University of Paris, France, and completed an MBA at Rutgers University. His postdoctoral fellowship was conducted in the Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of California, San Diego, and he completed residencies in Endocrinology and Internal Medicine at Military Hospital Bégin, Paris, and Assistance Publique, Hospitals of Paris, respectively.