Nuvig Therapeutics Strengthens Leadership Team with Appointment of David J. Woodhouse, Ph.D., as Chief Executive Officer and James Mackay, Ph.D., as Independent Board Chair
Nuvig Therapeutics, Inc. (“Nuvig”), a privately held biotechnology company dedicated to developing transformative immunomodulatory therapeutics for patients suffering from autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, has announced two pivotal leadership appointments that mark a new chapter in the company’s evolution. David J. Woodhouse, Ph.D., a seasoned biopharmaceutical executive with more than two decades of experience spanning science, strategy, and finance, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and member of the Board of Directors. In parallel, James Mackay, Ph.D., a highly respected biotechnology leader with an extensive track record in drug development and organizational leadership, has been named Independent Board Chair.
These appointments represent more than routine leadership changes—they underscore Nuvig’s strategic intent to accelerate the clinical advancement of its lead therapeutic candidate, NVG-2089, and expand the company’s proprietary BESTech™ platform to address a wider spectrum of autoimmune diseases. With these leaders at the helm, Nuvig is positioning itself to advance the next generation of precision-engineered therapies designed to address longstanding challenges in immunology.
The Strategic Significance of the Appointments
Nuvig’s Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Pamela Conley, Ph.D., emphasized the importance of bringing in Woodhouse and Mackay at this stage of the company’s growth.
“David’s systematic approach and track record in successfully guiding biotechnology companies through critical growth stages, alongside his extensive knowledge in life sciences, finance, and business development, position him to lead Nuvig through its next phase of development,” Conley stated. “We are equally pleased to announce that James Mackay now serves as Independent Chair of the Board. Together, their leadership will be invaluable as we advance NVG-2089 in multiple Phase 2 clinical trials and broaden the reach of our BESTech™ platform into additional autoimmune indications.”
For Nuvig, leadership is not just about operational execution. It is about creating the vision, building the partnerships, and ensuring that the company is resourced and structured to deliver on the promise of its science. The dual appointment strengthens both the executive function and governance framework, signaling to investors, collaborators, and patients that the company is serious about scaling its operations and achieving impact.
David J. Woodhouse, Ph.D. – A Leader with Scientific and Financial Acumen
Dr. David J. Woodhouse brings a distinctive blend of experiences to Nuvig’s CEO role. His career trajectory illustrates a rare combination of deep scientific training, frontline exposure to drug development, and high-level expertise in finance and capital markets.
A Diverse Career in Biotechnology
Woodhouse has spent more than 23 years in the biopharmaceutical sector. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. During his tenure, he guided the company through multiple clinical milestones and forged strategic partnerships with leading pharmaceutical organizations. His ability to manage complex clinical programs while ensuring financial discipline positioned NGM as a recognized player in the biotech ecosystem.
Prior to becoming CEO at NGM, Woodhouse served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for more than three years. This experience gave him a robust command of corporate finance, investor relations, and capital strategy—competencies that are critical for emerging biotech firms navigating the challenges of clinical development and fundraising.
Before joining NGM, Woodhouse held a senior role as Managing Director in the healthcare investment banking group at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, where he co-led the biotechnology investment banking practice. There, he advised numerous biotech companies on capital raising, strategic transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. This role sharpened his skills in deal-making and market navigation, which will be invaluable for Nuvig as it seeks to build partnerships and secure resources to fund its growth.
Earlier in his career, Woodhouse gained practical scientific and operational experience at Dynavax Technologies and Amgen Inc., where he contributed to research efforts in pharmacology.
Academic Background
Woodhouse’s academic credentials reflect his strong scientific foundation. He holds a B.A. in pharmacology from the University of California, Santa Barbara; an M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College; and a Ph.D. in molecular pharmacology from Stanford University School of Medicine. This combination of science and business training equips him to appreciate the complexities of drug development while also making sound business and financial decisions.
Vision for Nuvig
“I am thrilled to join Nuvig at such an important stage in the company’s development,” said Dr. Woodhouse. “With NVG-2089, we have the potential to deliver a potent, patient-friendly alternative to IVIg that is scalable, consistent, and precisely engineered. I look forward to working closely with Pam, James, the Board, and our talented team to bring this important therapy to patients and to more broadly leverage the BESTech platform’s capabilities to advance multiple new treatments for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.”
James Mackay, Ph.D. – An Independent Board Chair with Industry-Wide Perspective
Complementing Woodhouse’s appointment is the selection of James Mackay, Ph.D., as Independent Board Chair. Dr. Mackay is a veteran biotechnology executive with a career spanning drug development, organizational leadership, and corporate strategy. His expertise in building and guiding high-performing teams makes him an invaluable addition to Nuvig’s governance structure.
Career Highlights
Dr. Mackay currently serves as CEO of Kateran Consulting, where he advises biopharmaceutical companies on strategic development, operations, and organizational growth. His leadership experience includes serving as CEO of Ardea Bioscience and Aristea Therapeutics, two companies known for innovative approaches to therapeutic development.
At AstraZeneca, Mackay held multiple executive positions that involved managing complex portfolios and advancing drug candidates from discovery through clinical stages. His breadth of experience ensures that he brings both operational insight and a strategic, long-term perspective to his role as Board Chair.
Governance and Oversight
As Independent Chair, Mackay’s primary responsibility will be to ensure effective oversight of company strategy, financial stewardship, and risk management. He will also play a pivotal role in guiding corporate governance, supporting the CEO, and ensuring that Nuvig’s board remains aligned with the company’s mission and values.
NVG-2089 – A Next-Generation Immunomodulatory Therapy
At the core of Nuvig’s scientific pipeline is NVG-2089, an engineered Fc fragment designed to replicate the therapeutic benefits of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), while addressing its major limitations.
Mechanism of Action
NVG-2089 precisely targets type II Fc receptors and mimics the key immunomodulatory mechanisms of IVIg. When it binds to its target, NVG-2089 activates and upregulates the inhibitory receptor FcγRIIb, expands regulatory T cells (Tregs), and downregulates multiple inflammatory pathways. These effects collectively rebalance immune responses in patients with autoimmune diseases.
Advantages over IVIg
While IVIg has been the standard of care for decades in a wide range of autoimmune diseases, it is derived from pooled human plasma, which makes supply limited, manufacturing complex, and product consistency variable. IVIg therapy also often requires lengthy intravenous infusions that can be burdensome for patients and healthcare systems.
NVG-2089, in contrast, is recombinantly produced, ensuring scalability, consistency, and potentially improved tolerability. Its design allows for selective engagement of anti-inflammatory pathways without broadly suppressing the immune system, offering a safer, more targeted approach. For patients, this could translate to more convenient administration and reduced treatment burden.
Clinical Development
Nuvig is currently advancing NVG-2089 through multiple Phase 2 clinical trials across a variety of autoimmune indications. These studies aim to validate the drug’s efficacy and safety while demonstrating its potential as a disruptive alternative to IVIg. If successful, NVG-2089 could reshape treatment paradigms in diseases where IVIg is widely used but imperfect.
The BESTech™ Platform – Expanding the Possibilities
Beyond NVG-2089, Nuvig’s broader ambition lies in its proprietary BESTech™ (Biologically Engineered Sialylated Therapeutics) platform. This platform builds on the understanding of how sialylated IgG interacts with Fc receptors to modulate immune activity. By harnessing these mechanisms, Nuvig engineers multi-functional biologics that can be tailored to different autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
The modular nature of BESTech™ provides the potential to generate a pipeline of therapeutics that not only target diverse diseases but also improve upon existing treatment options in terms of safety, efficacy, and patient convenience. Under Woodhouse and Mackay’s leadership, Nuvig intends to leverage this platform more broadly, expanding beyond its initial indications.
Addressing a Growing Global Health Challenge
Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases represent a major area of unmet medical need. Conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) affect millions worldwide. For many of these diseases, treatment relies heavily on broad immunosuppression or complex biologic therapies, each with significant limitations.
The need for therapies that can modulate the immune system with precision, reducing disease activity without compromising overall immune function, has never been greater. NVG-2089 and the BESTech™ platform aim to meet this challenge head-on, offering the potential for a new class of patient-friendly, scalable therapies.
About Nuvig Therapeutics
Founded with a mission to redefine treatment paradigms for chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, Nuvig Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Menlo Park, California. The company’s scientific foundation rests on pioneering research into Fc receptor biology and immunomodulation.
Backed by leading life science investors, Nuvig is building a pipeline that combines rigorous science with practical patient-focused solutions. Its lead candidate, NVG-2089, is the most advanced example of its approach, while the BESTech™ platform is expected to generate additional candidates for a variety of autoimmune indications.
For more information, please visit www.nuvigtherapeutics.com.
The appointments of David J. Woodhouse, Ph.D., as Chief Executive Officer and James Mackay, Ph.D., as Independent Board Chair represent a decisive step forward for Nuvig Therapeutics. Their combined expertise in science, finance, strategy, and governance will guide the company through the critical phases of clinical development and organizational scaling.
As NVG-2089 progresses through Phase 2 trials and the BESTech™ platform expands, Nuvig is poised to make meaningful contributions to the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. For patients, clinicians, and investors, the message is clear: Nuvig is strengthening its foundation for the future, with leadership and science aligned toward delivering transformative therapies.
