Arcutis Biotherapeutics Appoints Biopharma Leader Chris Peetz To Its Board Of Directors

Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc., a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing innovative treatments in immuno-dermatology, has announced the appointment of Christopher "Chris" Peetz to its Board of Directors, effective July 15, 2026. The company believes his extensive leadership experience in building and growing biopharmaceutical organizations will support its next phase of expansion.

Frank Watanabe, President and Chief Executive Officer of Arcutis, said Chris Peetz joins the Board at an important time for the company as it continues to strengthen and expand its business. He noted that Peetz has successfully led biopharmaceutical companies through product development, commercial launches, and strategic acquisitions. According to Watanabe, his expertise will help Arcutis continue growing the ZORYVE (roflumilast) franchise, expand the therapy into additional indications, and strengthen the company's pipeline through both internal development and external innovation.

Keith R. Leonard, Chairman of the Arcutis Board of Directors, also welcomed Peetz, highlighting his proven ability to build and scale innovative biotechnology companies. He said Peetz's experience in advancing multiple products from development to commercialization, combined with his strategic leadership and operational expertise, will provide valuable guidance as Arcutis continues to execute its long-term growth strategy.

Commenting on his appointment, Chris Peetz said he is honored to join the Arcutis Board during an exciting period for the company. He praised Arcutis for its strong commitment to improving the lives of people living with immune-mediated skin diseases and said he looks forward to working closely with the Board and management team to support the company's continued success and future growth.

Peetz is currently the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mirum Pharmaceuticals, where he has led the company since its establishment in 2018. Under his leadership, Mirum has grown into a global rare disease company with a diversified portfolio focused on improving diagnosis, patient access, and treatment outcomes for underserved patient populations. In addition to his role at Mirum, he serves as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Frazier Life Sciences.

Throughout his career, Peetz has held several senior leadership positions across the biopharmaceutical industry. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Flashlight Therapeutics and as Chief Financial Officer and Head of Corporate Development at Tobira, which was later acquired by Allergan plc. 

Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at Jennerex Biotherapeutics, Onyx Pharmaceuticals (now part of Amgen), ABN AMRO's LaSalle Corporate Finance, Abgenix, and Solazyme. He also served on the Board of Directors of Alpine Immune Sciences until the company was acquired by Vertex. Peetz earned an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in finance, international business, and French from Washington University in St. Louis.