WAYNE, PA — Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACRS) announced the appointment of Roland Kolbeck, Ph.D., as its new Chief Scientific Officer, bringing on board a seasoned leader in immunology and drug development as the company sharpens its focus on immuno-inflammatory therapeutics.
Kolbeck succeeds Joe Monahan, Ph.D., who will transition to the role of Special Scientific Advisor to the CEO through the first quarter of 2026, concluding a distinguished tenure that included building Aclaris’ discovery engine and advancing its drug pipeline.
Kolbeck enters the role with nearly 30 years of leadership in biopharmaceutical research and development. His most recent role was Chief Scientific Officer at Spirovant Sciences, where he led strategic initiatives in gene therapy targeting new indications and investments. Before that, he served as Vice President and Head of Respiratory, Inflammation, and Autoimmune Research at MedImmune, the biologics division of AstraZeneca. During his time there, he chaired the RIA Research Committee and helped guide six monoclonal antibodies from concept to FDA approval.
At Aclaris, Kolbeck will lead scientific efforts around the company’s expanding pipeline, which includes next-generation kinase inhibitors, cytokine signaling pathway modulators, and novel bispecific antibodies targeting chronic inflammatory diseases.
“His reputation as an inspirational scientific leader is unmatched,” said Neal Walker, CEO and Chair of Aclaris’ Board. “This expertise will be important to the Company as we progress.”
Dr. Walker also praised Monahan’s contributions, noting his role in establishing Aclaris’ St. Louis discovery hub and building out a small molecule discovery platform. “Joe has been central to Aclaris’ resilience and evolution,” Walker said, adding that Monahan will continue to support the company during the leadership transition.
Kolbeck emphasized his enthusiasm for the company’s scientific capabilities and its readiness to advance new therapies. “Aclaris has developed world-class expertise in kinase small molecule discovery, including a proprietary development platform that is expected to deliver new INDs starting as soon as next year,” he said. “This is a great time to join the Aclaris team, and I look forward to contributing to the company’s continued success.”
With Kolbeck’s arrival, Aclaris strengthens its scientific leadership at a pivotal time as it prepares to bring multiple candidates closer to clinical development in a highly competitive immuno-inflammatory landscape.
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