Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Rhythm rounds up Merck vet Van der Ploeg as science head

By Rodney H. Brown

Just weeks after naming its new CEO, startup Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Inc. has picked Merck Research Labs veteran Lex Van der Ploeg as its new chief scientific officer, the company said in a release.

Van der Ploeg spent 17 years at Merck Research Laboratories, in positions that included vice president, basic research and site head here at MRL Boston, as well as site head at MRL San Diego, and head, obesity research. It is particularly that expertise in obesity research that drew Rhythm’s attention, according to CEO Keith Gottesdiener. In the release, Gottesdiener noted that Van der Ploeg “led obesity metabolic research at Merck that put 10 product candidates into clinical development.”

Boston-based Rhythm is developing the ghrelin peptide agonist, RM-131, for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis and the MC4R peptide agonist, RM-493, for obesity and diabetes. Gottesdiener also previously worked for New Jersey drug maker Merck & Co., where he served as vice president and late-stage therapeutic group leader. He took the CEO role at Rhythm at the beginning of November.

After Merck, Van der Ploeg worked on personalized medicine as head, R&D at Abraxis Health Inc. of Los Angeles, which was acquired by Celgene Corp. He received a master’s degree in biochemistry and enzymology from the University of Amsterdam and a Ph.D. in biochemistry/enzymology/genetics from the University of Amsterdam/Netherlands Cancer Institute.

Rhythm completed a $40 million Series A funding round in September of 2010.  Investors in the company include MPM Capital, New Enterprise Associates and Third Rock Ventures. Rhythm was founded out of MPM by chief development officer and MPM managing director Elizabeth Stoner.