Crystalys Appoints Justin Thacker As CFO To Drive Gout Pipeline. Veteran Biopharma Executive Joins Crystalys Leadership Team

Crystalys Therapeutics has appointed veteran life sciences executive Justin Thacker as its new Chief Financial Officer, strengthening its leadership team as the company advances programs for patients with gout. Thacker brings more than 25 years of financial leadership experience, including over two decades in biotech and pharmaceutical companies at both clinical and commercial stages. His background includes guiding organisations through IPOs, financings, product launches and mergers and acquisitions.

Most recently, Thacker served as CFO of Capstan Therapeutics, where he supported rapid growth and its acquisition by AbbVie for up to $2.1 billion. He previously held CFO roles at Aristea Therapeutics and Design Therapeutics, and earlier senior finance positions at Synthorx, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, Auspex Pharmaceuticals and Cadence Pharmaceuticals, each of which was later acquired by major pharmaceutical companies. He began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers and holds accounting degrees from Kansas State University, as well as CPA licensure in Missouri.

"We are incredibly excited to welcome Justin to our executive team," remarked James M. Mackay, Ph.D., CEO and President of Crystalys. "Justin brings exceptional expertise and a proven track record of financial stewardship and strategic transactions. His experience strengthens our organisation, and Justin's contributions will play a critical role as we advance dotinurad through Phase 3 clinical trials and regulatory approval."

San Diego–based Crystalys is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving treatment options for people living with gout. Co-founded by Catalys Pacific and Novo Holdings, the company is building a pipeline centred on innovative urate-lowering therapies. Its lead asset, dotinurad, is a next-generation, once-daily oral URAT1 inhibitor being developed as a second-line therapy to reduce uric acid levels, gout flares and tophi.

"I'm thrilled to join Crystalys at such an exciting and meaningful stage in the company's growth," said Mr. Thacker, Chief Financial Officer of Crystalys Therapeutics. "The initiation of our Phase 3 trials, RUBY and TOPAZ, evaluating dotinurad as a potential best-in-class gout therapy, together with the momentum from our $205 million Series A financing, marks a transformative moment for the Company. I look forward to partnering with the leadership team to execute on our financial strategy, support our clinical and operational priorities, and help advance our mission to deliver a potentially safer, more effective treatment option to patients living with gout."

Dotinurad has already received regulatory approval in several Asian markets, including Japan and China, and is supported by clinical data suggesting strong safety and efficacy potential. Crystalys is now advancing the drug through global Phase 3 trials as it works toward regulatory submissions and a future commercial launch.