Seres Appoints Richard Kender Executive Chair And Interim CEO To Lead Inflammatory & Immune Strategy, As It Advances Live Biotherapeutics Pipeline

Seres Therapeutics, Inc. announced the appointment of Richard N. Kender as Executive Chair and Interim Chief Executive Officer. Kender brings more than 35 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including his previous role as Senior Vice President, Business Development and Corporate Licensing at Merck & Co., Inc.. He has been a member of the Seres Board of Directors since September 2014. Former co-CEOs Eric Shaff DesRosier and Andrea Thorell will continue in their leadership roles as Chief Legal Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively.

Stephen Berenson, outgoing Seres Board Chairman, stated, “On behalf of the entire board, I wish to thank Tom and Marella for their continued strong leadership. They provided essential continuity of leadership; drove the organization to advance SER-155 to Phase 2 readiness; and shaped the strategy for the next phase of Seres’ development, including the Company’s engagement with potential strategic partners. We are pleased to continue to work with both of them in their roles as Chief Legal Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

“I also welcome my fellow director, Richard Kender, into his new role as Executive Chair and Interim CEO. The board and I concluded that Rich, with his extensive experience in business development and licensing, along with an intimate knowledge of Seres, is ideally suited to partner closely with Seres leadership to drive expanded translation of the Company’s live biotherapeutics platform into valuable drug programs and to create meaningful partnerships with collaborators. I look forward to remaining on the board of directors, supporting Rich and the Company overall.”

The leadership transition follows Seres’ recently announced corporate strategy centered on advancing its live biotherapeutic programs in inflammatory and immune (I&I) diseases. The company is prioritizing development in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and immune checkpoint-related enterocolitis (irEC). A clinical readout from the fully enrolled investigator-sponsored SER-155 study in irEC, being conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, is anticipated in the second quarter of 2026.

As part of the company’s early-stage strategic focus, Matthew Henn, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, has been appointed President in addition to his current responsibilities. Kelly Brady, M.S., previously Senior Vice President of Clinical Development, has been named Chief Operating Officer. Both executives have been with Seres for many years and played key roles in the development, regulatory approval, and commercial launch of VOWST, the first oral microbiome therapeutic.

Richard Kender, Executive Chair and interim CEO of Seres, said, “I am excited and honored to lead Seres during a period when we have the opportunity to create life-saving products with meaningful value across a portfolio of highly promising therapeutic candidates. SER-155, our Breakthrough Therapy designated program for patients undergoing allo-HSCT to treat high-risk blood cancers, is well positioned to advance into Phase 2, pending funding. In Q2, we expect to report clinical data from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) investigator-sponsored study of SER-155 in immune checkpoint inhibitor–related enterocolitis, a serious complication of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy that disrupts cancer treatment for up to 50% of patients, representing a sizable opportunity. Alongside advancing our programs, we are pursuing strategic collaborations with partners positioned to support development across our pipeline and platform and to help us realize the broader potential application of live biotherapeutics in multiple I&I diseases. In addition, I know I speak for the entire board in thanking Stephen for his unwavering dedication and leadership as board chairman over the last six years, which have been core to Seres’ success. The thoughtfulness and creativity Stephen displayed enabled the Company to foster a culture of excellence and innovation, and we are pleased he will continue to contribute as a director.”

Seres noted that the leadership team’s prior experience in building its live biotherapeutics platform and working closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to establish regulatory pathways for microbiome-based therapies will support the continued advancement of its inflammatory and immune disease pipeline.