ADARx Pharmaceuticals has named Donald Fong, MD, its new Chief Medical Officer (CMO).

Fong joins after serving in the same post at BioCryst Pharmaceuticals.

Duties of ADARx CMO

As a late-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation RNA therapeutics, ADARx is enlisting Fong to lead advancement of its clinical-stage pipeline. This includes Phase II and III clinical trials in areas like genetic, cardiovascular, thrombosis, central nervous system, and metabolic diseases.

In May 2025, ADARx and AbbVie agreed to develop small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutics across multiple disease areas. Among those areas are neuroscience, immunology, and oncology.

Fong said he is excited to “support the continued advancement of its robust pipeline of clinical-stage, next-generation siRNA therapeutics.”

“ADARx has built a compelling technology platform with the potential to address significant unmet needs,” Fong said. He added that he anticipates advancing multiple programs to “help realize the full potential of ADARx’s RNA technology for patients.”

Fong Resume Includes FDA Work

Zhen Li, PhD, President and CEO of ADARx Pharmaceuticals, lauded Fong’s experience across the biotech and healthcare industries.

“[He’s] a highly respected physician and leader with deep expertise spanning clinical practice, clinical development, and operational execution,” Li said. “With early- through late-stage clinical development success, Don brings an end-to-end clinical perspective that will be invaluable.”

That success, according to an ADARx news release, has included rare disease, ophthalmology, immunology, infectious disease, oncology and metabolic conditions.

Prior to his tenure at BioCryst, Fong was Vice President of Ophthalmology Clinical Development at Annexon Biosciences. Earlier in his career, he founded the clinical trials division at Kaiser Permanente Southern California.

Additionally, Fong has been an advisor to several U.S. FDA committees. Included among these was his chairmanship of the Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee.