Muna Therapeutics Taps Former iTeos CEO Michel Detheux to Lead Pipeline

Detheux assumes the role as Muna prepares to advance its lead asset, the small-molecule TREM2 agonist MNA-001, into Phase 2 clinical trials for early Alzheimer’s disease by early 2027. His appointment leverages over 30 years of industry experience, including his tenure at iTeos, where he oversaw the company’s growth from a research spin-off to a publicly traded entity that raised more than $1.2 billion and secured a $2 billion collaboration with GSK.

Balice-Gordon, who served as CEO since 2021, leaves behind a foundation anchored by the MiND-MAP discovery platform. Recent research published in Nature Medicine, which utilized this platform to identify microglial state transitions as drivers of Alzheimer’s pathology, underscores the scientific trajectory Detheux is tasked with maintaining. Board Chair Donald Nicholson noted that the transition aims to marry Balice-Gordon’s foundational scientific vision with Detheux’s track record in corporate scaling and strategic partnerships.