Hepion Pharmaceuticals Appoints Dr. Kaouthar Lbiati As Interim Chief Executive Officer

Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing diagnostic tests for a range of diseases, has announced the appointment of Dr. Kaouthar Lbiati as interim Chief Executive Officer, effective June 16, 2025. Dr. Lbiati will succeed John Brancaccio, who is stepping down due to personal reasons. The leadership change marks the beginning of a new phase for Hepion, with a renewed focus on strategic growth and innovation in diagnostics targeting significant areas of unmet clinical need. The company’s current pipeline includes diagnostic tests for celiac disease, respiratory multiplex infections (including COVID-19, Influenza A/B, and RSV), Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Dr. Lbiati has been a member of Hepion’s Board of Directors since June 2022 and brings more than 15 years of leadership experience from both biotech startups and large pharmaceutical companies. She also serves on the board of Theralase Technologies Inc., a clinical-stage oncology company. Throughout her career, Dr. Lbiati has played a key role in advancing drug candidates from early development through global commercialization. She has built and led cross-functional teams, secured regulatory approvals and reimbursement in multiple international markets, and contributed to the successful launch of several well-known therapies. 

Dr. Tim Block, Board Member of Hepion, said in a statement, “Firstly, I want to thank Mr John Brancaccio for his service as interim CEO. His wisdom was essential in navigating through challenging times and guiding us to new opportunities. I am excited to welcome Dr. Lbiati to the Hepion leadership role. We believe Dr. Lbiati brings the vision, global experience, and strategic clarity needed to guide Hepion through this exciting next phase. The Board is confident in her ability to drive innovation and deliver real-world global impact in diagnostics.”

Dr. Lbiati also mentioned, “This is a pivotal moment for rebuilding Hepion and redefining its role in the global diagnostics ecosystem. We are repositioning the company as a leader in precision diagnostics, leveraging scalable technologies to address high-demand clinical needs, starting with underdiagnosed conditions like celiac disease, H. pylori, and HCC. Hepion’s transformation is grounded in delivering immediate impact through disciplined execution and rapid commercialization of both CE-marked tests in Europe and the UK, and U.S. regulatory submissions. We plan to prioritize near-term revenue generation and long-term innovation, and clinical utility both for patients at risk of developing liver cancer, and their caregivers (health surveillance)”.

Her portfolio of experience includes drugs such as Jevtana® (oncology), Votrient® (oncology), Blincyto® (hematology), Filgotinib® (immune-inflammation), and Symbicort® (respiratory disease). As interim CEO, Dr. Lbiati will focus on driving Hepion’s diagnostic programs forward, strengthening its strategic direction, and positioning the company for continued progress in developing solutions for challenging diseases.