Seres Appoints Kender as Interim CEO, Seeks Funding Ahead of Q2 2026 SER-155 Readout
Seres Therapeutics appointed Richard N. Kender as Executive Chair and Interim CEO to drive its live biotherapeutics strategy in inflammatory and immune diseases. The company expects Q2 2026 data from a fully enrolled 15-patient SER-155 Phase 2–readiness study in immune checkpoint–related enterocolitis and is seeking funding for allo-HSCT program.
1. Leadership Transition and Strategic Roles
Seres named Richard N. Kender as Executive Chair and Interim Chief Executive Officer, leveraging his 35 years of biopharma business development, licensing and finance experience. Concurrently, Chief Scientific Officer Matthew Henn assumes the title of President, and SVP Clinical Development Kelly Brady becomes Chief Operating Officer to streamline early-stage program advancement.
2. SER-155 Investigator-Sponsored Study Update
The investigator-sponsored SER-155 trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is fully enrolled with 15 participants evaluating immune checkpoint–related enterocolitis. Initial safety, efficacy, pharmacology and biomarker data are expected in Q2 2026, and the company is securing funding to move the Breakthrough Therapy–designated program into Phase 2 for allo-HSCT patients.
3. Preclinical Pipeline and Collaboration Efforts
Seres continues IND-enabling activities for SER-603, a live biotherapeutic candidate targeting gastrointestinal barrier integrity in inflammatory bowel disease. The company is engaging potential collaborators to support clinical advancement and aims to leverage its regulatory experience from the launch of its first oral microbiome therapeutic.