Ovid Therapeutics Appoints Dr. Petra Kaufmann As Chief Medical Officer To Lead Clinical And Regulatory Strategy For CNS Therapies

Ovid Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing small molecule therapies for brain disorders with significant unmet needs, announced the appointment of Petra Kaufmann, M.D., M.S., F.A.A.N., as Chief Medical Officer. In this role, Dr. Kaufmann will guide the company’s clinical, medical, and regulatory strategy as Ovid advances its pipeline of potential best- and first-in-class therapies targeting neuronal imbalance.

Dr. Kaufmann brings extensive experience in the development of central nervous system (CNS) therapeutics, spanning first-in-human studies through global regulatory approvals. Her expertise is rooted in her early career as a practicing neurologist, where she treated patients with treatment-resistant epilepsies and neuromuscular disorders. She has held leadership roles in biopharmaceutical companies as well as at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she directed national rare-disease research programs and clinical trial infrastructure. Dr. Kaufmann’s background includes patient-focused trial design, biomarker-driven strategies, and quantitative clinical planning. She will oversee the development of Ovid’s next-generation GABA-AT inhibitor, OV329, along with the company’s portfolio of first-in-class KCC2 direct activators.

Meg Alexander, President and Chief Operating Officer of Ovid Therapeutics, commented that Dr. Kaufmann’s combination of scientific creativity, regulatory experience, and clinical insight will strengthen the company’s R&D organization. Alexander emphasized that Dr. Kaufmann’s leadership will help accelerate the development of Ovid’s differentiated pipeline, advancing the company’s mission to bring new, safer, and more effective medicines to patients and families.

Dr. Kaufmann expressed her enthusiasm for joining Ovid, highlighting the company’s commitment to patient-focused development and rigorous science. She noted that she looks forward to advancing OV329 and the broader KCC2 portfolio while ensuring each program is guided by sound clinical principles and a deep understanding of patient needs.

Before joining Ovid, Dr. Kaufmann served as Chief Medical Officer at Vigil Neuroscience (acquired by Sanofi), overseeing clinical, medical, biomarker, patient advocacy, and regulatory functions. She previously held positions as Chief Medical Officer of Affinia Therapeutics and Senior Vice President of Clinical Development, Translational Medicine & Analytics at Novartis Gene Therapies, where she contributed to the global development and approval of Zolgensma®, the first gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy. She also held senior roles at AveXis (acquired by Novartis) and served as Head of the Office of Rare Diseases Research at the NIH, supporting national research and clinical trial infrastructure for rare and genetic conditions. During her time at the NIH, she also worked as a part-time reviewer for the FDA’s Division of Neurology Products.

Dr. Kaufmann earned her M.D. from the University of Bonn, an M.S. in Biostatistics from Columbia University, and completed specialized training in epileptology and electroencephalography at the University of Bonn. She completed neurology and clinical neurophysiology training at Columbia University Medical Center, where she later served as a tenured faculty member in the Department of Neurology. Dr. Kaufmann is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.