RAPT Therapeutics Names Lori Lyons-Williams As Board Chair

RAPT Therapeutics, Inc. is a cutting-edge biopharmaceutical company specialising in therapies for inflammatory and immunological diseases. The firm has announced Lori Lyons-Williams as the new chair of its board of directors. She now takes on this new leadership position to help guide the company in its mission to bring transformative therapies to patients.

Succeeding William Rieflin, who stepped down on January 3, 2025, but will continue to support the company in a consulting role. Lori Lyons-Williams is a seasoned leader in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, bringing over 20 years of experience to the position. In addition to her role at RAPT, Lori serves on the boards of Abdera Therapeutics and Contineum Therapeutics. Having joined the RAPT board in 2021.

Brian Wong, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of RAPT, said in a statement, “We are pleased to welcome Lori as chair of the board. In the four years that Lori has served as a board member, she has provided invaluable guidance based on her leadership experience driving strategic and commercial success in biotech and pharmaceutical companies. We look forward to her increased involvement as we pursue late-stage development and potential commercialisation in inflammatory diseases. We also thank Bill for his nine years on our board providing steady and wise counsel.”

She currently serves as the President and CEO of Abdera Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing precision radiopharmaceuticals for cancer. Her impressive career includes leadership roles as president and COO of Neumora Therapeutics and as chief commercial officer of Dermira, where she was instrumental in driving the company's success until its acquisition by Eli Lilly. Before that, she spent 15 years at Allergan, where she played a key role in launching numerous commercial products, including multiple indications of BOTOX®.

“It has been an honour and a pleasure to serve as chair of the RAPT board. I have confidence in the board and the management team and believe that Lori has the skills and experience to help guide RAPT into the future,” said Mr. Rieflin.