Kailera Therapeutics Expands Leadership With Appointment Of Frank K. Clyburn, Jr. To Board Of Directors

Kailera Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to advancing a differentiated, late-stage portfolio of next-generation therapies for the treatment of obesity, has announced the appointment of Frank K. Clyburn, Jr. to its Board of Directors. Mr. Clyburn is an accomplished leader with extensive operational and strategic experience across the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and biosciences sectors. His proven ability to build and scale global business units will bring valuable insight to Kailera as the company continues to grow and advance its development programs.

Commenting on the appointment, Ron Renaud, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kailera Therapeutics, said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Frank to our Board. His background combines deep pharmaceutical expertise with strong consumer health leadership, and he has consistently demonstrated success in driving innovation and commercial growth across complex, regulated industries. As Kailera continues to advance its late-stage pipeline and position itself as a global leader in obesity treatment, Frank’s strategic vision and leadership experience will be instrumental in guiding our next phase of growth.”

Expressing his enthusiasm about joining the Board, Mr. Clyburn said, “I am excited to join this dynamic team at such a pivotal time as Kailera prepares to launch its global Phase 3 program later this year. The company’s mission and its bold, science-driven approach to developing next-generation therapies for obesity have the potential to improve the lives of millions of people worldwide. I look forward to working closely with the Board and leadership team to help the company execute its strategic goals and fully realize its potential.”

Mr. Clyburn brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in the pharmaceutical and biosciences industries. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors at International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF), a global company operating in the food ingredients, beverage, scent, healthcare, and biosciences markets. During his tenure, he oversaw organizational transformation and drove growth across diverse business units.

Prior to joining IFF, Mr. Clyburn spent 13 years at Merck & Co., Inc., where he held several key leadership positions, including Executive Vice President and Division President of Human Health. In this role, he managed the global P&L for Merck’s portfolio of medicines and vaccines, driving both operational efficiency and strategic expansion. Earlier at Merck, he served as President of the Primary Care business line, overseeing the company’s diabetes and cardiovascular portfolios, and later as President of the Global Oncology business unit, where he played a central role in the development and commercialization of the Keytruda® franchise, one of the most successful oncology products in the industry.

Before his time at Merck, Mr. Clyburn spent 14 years at Sanofi Aventis, where he held various management positions of increasing responsibility, including Vice President and Head of U.S. Internal Medicine and Oncology Business. His leadership across multiple therapeutic areas and business functions has established him as a respected figure in the pharmaceutical industry. 

Mr. Clyburn currently serves on the boards of Cencora, Inc. and Revolution Medicines, contributing his strategic and operational expertise to organizations at the forefront of healthcare innovation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Franklin & Marshall College and a Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University.

With Mr. Clyburn’s appointment, Kailera Therapeutics strengthens its Board of Directors with a leader whose deep industry knowledge, commercial acumen, and commitment to patient-centered innovation will help guide the company as it advances its global mission to transform obesity care through next-generation therapeutic solutions.