Enanta Pharmaceuticals CEO Jay R. Luly plans to retire by Feb. 1, 2027, ending 23 years leading the biotechnology company. He is expected to serve as a strategic adviser through the end of 2027 to support the transition.
The board has begun a search for his successor, considering internal and external candidates. Enanta also appointed Tara L. Kieffer, its chief product strategy officer, to the newly created role of chief operating officer.
Key details
- CEO transition: Luly, 70, will leave the president and CEO roles by Feb. 1, 2027. He has led Enanta for 23 years and says he will step back from full-time executive leadership.
- Advisory role: Enanta expects to enter into an agreement for Luly to serve as a strategic adviser for the remainder of 2027, helping support an orderly handover.
- Successor search: The board’s search is underway and will consider both internal and external candidates.
- New COO: Kieffer was appointed COO on Oct. 28. She joined Enanta in 2020 and most recently served as chief product strategy officer. Before Enanta, she spent 16 years at Vertex Pharmaceuticals in research, clinical development, program management and business development.
- Role focus: Kieffer is expected to drive operational execution across Enanta and work with the leadership team to align the business around its strategic priorities.
- Company context: Enanta is a clinical-stage drug developer focused on RSV and immunology programs. Its HCV drug discovery collaboration with AbbVie also generates royalties that contribute to ongoing operations.
What changes
The company is adding a COO while preparing for a change at the top. Kieffer’s appointment gives her a broader operational role, while the successor search will determine who leads Enanta as it advances its pipeline. Luly’s planned advisory service is intended to support continuity during the transition.