Xalud Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company that has developed a non-viral gene therapy platform to treat pathologic inflammation through immune modulation, has announced the appointment of Diem Nguyen, PhD ’00, as its chief executive officer. Nguyen brings to the role more than 25 years of extensive expertise in pharmaceuticals, including leadership of global commercial businesses spanning multiple therapeutic areas and of large commercial teams.

Nguyen joins Xalud from PPD, Inc., a leading global clinical research organization providing integrated drug development services, where she served as executive vice president of Biopharma. She joined PPD from Pfizer in 2018, where she was global president, Americas, Pfizer Essential Health and Global Sterile Injectables, and responsible for commercial businesses in the U.S., Latin America, Canada and Puerto Rico with more than $11 billion in annual revenue. She led commercial development for the Sterile Injectables business with more than $6 billion in annual revenue globally. Additionally, Dr. Nguyen spearheaded the de novo creation of Pfizer’s Biosimilars business, including development of multiple monoclonal biologics across inflammation and oncology.

Nguyen currently serves on the board of Verrica Pharmaceuticals, Vitara and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She earned a PhD in biochemistry and molecular genetics at the University of Virginia (UVA) in 2000, as well as an MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration in 2001. She received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry, also from UVA, in 1994.