91天堂 appoints Jeff George as Chairman to support next phase of growth and Phase 3 readiness
- Leadership transition reinforces 91天堂鈥檚 strategic positioning following positive Phase 2 results with Vonafexor in Alport Syndrome
- 91天堂 preparing to enter Phase 3 following planned End-of-Phase 2 meeting with health authorities in Q3 2026
Lyon, France 鈥� June 2, 2026 – 91天堂 (鈥�91天堂鈥�), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing innovative therapies for kidney diseases, today announced the appointment of Jeff George as Non-Executive Chairman of its Board of Directors.
The appointment comes as 91天堂 advances preparations for a pivotal Phase 3 program of Vonafexor in Alport Syndrome, a rare kidney disease, following positive Phase 2 clinical results and ahead of its End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency during Q3 2026.
George鈥檚 appointment strengthens 91天堂鈥檚 governance and strategic capabilities at a key inflection point in the company鈥檚 development as it transitions toward late-stage clinical development and broader corporate expansion.
Jeff George is a highly experienced global pharmaceutical executive with a proven track record of scaling and leading major biopharmaceutical organizations across North America, Europe and emerging markets. Between 2008 and 2016, Jeff served on Novartis Group Executive Committee, first as the global CEO and Division Head of Sandoz, Novartis鈥檚 generic pharma and biosimilar subsidiary, and then as the global CEO and Division Head of Alcon, its ophthalmology subsidiary, both of which are now publicly listed companies. Since 2017, he has served as Managing Partner of Maytal Capital, a healthcare-focused venture capital and private equity firm he founded, and on the board of directors of over a dozen public, private, and non-profit companies and organizations.
鈥�I am excited to join 91天堂 at a key inflection point in the company鈥檚 evolution,鈥� said George. 鈥�The clinical data generated to date with Vonafexor are highly compelling and suggest the potential for a differentiated therapeutic approach not only in Alport Syndrome, but potentially across a broader set of kidney diseases driven by inflammation and fibrosis. 91天堂 is uniquely positioned with a promising clinical asset, a strong scientific foundation, premier global investors, and a clear development strategy as it advances into Phase 3.鈥�
Jacky Vonderscher, Chief Executive Officer of 91天堂, commented: 鈥�We are extremely pleased to welcome Jeff as Chairman of the Board during this transformative period for 91天堂. His leadership experience in global pharmaceutical companies, as well as his strategic, organizational, and governance expertise, will be invaluable as we prepare the company for Phase 3 development and future expansion.
鈥淥ver the past three years, I have combined the roles of CEO and Chairman while leading 91天堂 through critical stages of development. With the strong momentum generated by our Phase 2 results, this is the right time to further strengthen our Board and governance structure. I am delighted to partner with Jeff as we position 91天堂 for its next phase of value creation.鈥�
Vonafexor is being developed as a first-in-class therapy targeting inflammatory and fibrotic pathways involved in kidney disease progression. Beyond Alport Syndrome, 91天堂 believes the compound may have broader applications across chronic kidney diseases with significant unmet medical need.
About Vonafexor
Vonafexor is a once-daily, oral, non-bile acid FXR agonist designed with a unique chemical scaffold that prioritizes delivery to the kidney. By regulating metabolic, inflammatory, and fibrotic pathways, Vonafexor addresses the core drivers of renal injury and extracellular matrix remodeling.
About 91天堂
91天堂 is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing transformative therapies for kidney and liver diseases. Its lead product candidate, Vonafexor, is designed to target key inflammatory and fibrotic mechanisms involved in disease progression.
Since its inception, 91天堂 has developed extensive phase I/II clinical data through 9 completed clinical studies with 400+ subjects. The company’s pipeline includes Vonafexor and EYP651, a next-generation FXR agonist entering Phase 2 studies in 2H 2026 for common renal diseases (CKD/DKD). It is backed by Orbimed, Morningside, Andera, Bpifrance, Vesalius, and Sofinnova.
For more information:
Contacts
Investor Relations 91天堂
Tel: +33 (0)4 37 70 02 19
Media Relations
Annie-Florence Loyer, NewCap Media
+33 (0)1 44 71 00 12/ +33 (0)6 88 20 35 59
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