Lexeo Therapeutics Strengthens Leadership With Narinder Bhalla As CMO, José Manuel Otero As COO, And Key Appointments To Advance Cardiovascular Genetic Therapies

Lexeo Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage genetic medicine company dedicated to developing novel therapies for cardiovascular diseases, announced a series of senior leadership appointments that reinforce the company’s expertise in cardiovascular medicine and late-stage clinical development. The company also provided an update on its strategic partnership with Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Funds and venBio Partners, announced in June 2025, to advance therapies for genetic cardiac diseases using a novel non-viral RNA platform.

Narinder Bhalla, MD, has been appointed Chief Medical Officer, effective immediately. Dr. Bhalla brings over 20 years of experience as an interventional cardiologist and nearly a decade of leadership experience in biopharmaceuticals. He has held senior roles at AstraZeneca and most recently at Bristol Myers Squibb, where he served as Senior Vice President and Head of Global Medical, Immunology & Cardiovascular. Dr. Bhalla is recognized for building and scaling high-performing medical and clinical development organizations, as well as leading successful global product launches that deliver meaningful outcomes for patients.

In connection with Dr. Bhalla’s appointment, Eric Adler, MD, Lexeo’s current Head of Research, will transition to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of Myoventive, Inc., a cardiac precision medicines company co-founded by Lexeo, Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Funds, and venBio Partners in June 2025, with additional participation from MRL Ventures Fund and Alexandria Venture Investments. Myoventive is focused on a novel platform designed to enable targeted RNA modulation in the heart, addressing genetic cardiac diseases that cannot be treated by existing AAV-based therapies. Dr. Adler will remain a senior clinical and scientific advisor to Lexeo.

R. Nolan Townsend, CEO of Lexeo, stated that Dr. Bhalla’s global medical leadership, commercial launch experience, and deep cardiovascular expertise will help translate Lexeo’s scientific potential into meaningful patient impact. He added that Dr. Adler will continue to drive innovation in cardiac genetic medicines through his leadership at Myoventive, and that together, these appointments strengthen Lexeo’s ability to execute on late-stage clinical and commercial objectives while continuing to invest in high-quality discovery and early cardiac development programs. Dr. Bhalla commented that he is honored to join Lexeo at this pivotal moment and is committed to advancing LX2006 and the broader pipeline with urgency and a strong focus on patients.

In addition to Dr. Bhalla’s appointment, Lexeo announced several other leadership updates. José Manuel Otero, PhD, has been named Chief Operating Officer, transitioning from his prior role as Chief Technical Officer. Under Dr. Otero’s leadership, Lexeo achieved industry-leading cost of goods, successfully executed a major manufacturing platform transition under stringent regulatory standards, and delivered consistent, timely clinical supply across programs. Hayes Dansky, MD, joins as Vice President, Late-Stage Cardiology Development. 

A cardiologist and physician-scientist with 20 years of clinical research experience, Dr. Dansky has led multiple cardiovascular studies, including Xarelto®, CETP inhibitor anacetrapib, and an ANGPTL3 antagonist antibody for hyperlipidemia, as well as studies in obesity, pulmonary arterial hypertension, sarcoidosis, and gene/cell therapies for sickle cell disease and cystic fibrosis. Greg Aubert, MD, PhD, has been appointed Vice President, Early-Stage Cardiology Development and Translational Science. 

Dr. Aubert is a cardiologist and physician-scientist specializing in cardiovascular genetics, gene therapy, and cardiometabolic research. He previously led the Clinical and Translational Research Division at Loyola University Cardiovascular Research Institute and oversaw late-stage clinical trials at CSL Vifor. In his new role, he will oversee Lexeo’s Phase I/II and preclinical programs while continuing to support efforts in Friedreich ataxia cardiomyopathy.

Together, these appointments reinforce Lexeo’s leadership team and position the company to advance both late-stage clinical programs and early-stage discovery in cardiovascular genetic medicine, while supporting its strategic partnership with Myoventive to develop targeted RNA therapies for genetic cardiac diseases.