Prilenia Therapeutics Appoints Neurology Expert Rick Munschauer as Chief Medical Officer
Prilenia Therapeutics B.V., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing potential treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, has announced the appointment of Frederick (Rick) E. Munschauer III, MD, MSc, FAAN, as its new Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Munschauer brings more than three decades of experience in neurology, clinical research, pharmaceutical development and medical affairs to the company at an important stage of its clinical development programs in Huntington’s disease (HD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
The appointment comes as Prilenia advances two registrational Phase 3 clinical programs, PRECISE-HD in Huntington’s disease and PREVAiLS in ALS. Both programs are evaluating pridopidine, the company’s investigational therapy, as Prilenia works toward generating the clinical evidence required to potentially support future regulatory submissions.
Munschauer’s combination of academic neurology experience, clinical trial leadership, regulatory expertise and pharmaceutical industry experience is expected to strengthen Prilenia’s medical and clinical development operations. Throughout his career, he has been involved in drug development programs spanning early-stage clinical studies through regulatory review and post-approval activities.
Extensive Experience in Neurology and Drug Development
Munschauer joins Prilenia after serving as Chief Medical Officer at three biopharmaceutical companies. Most recently, he was CMO of Emalex Biosciences, where he oversaw a broad range of functions, including Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Pharmacovigilance, Biostatistics and Medical Affairs.
During his tenure at Emalex, Munschauer led the development of ecopipam through the submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for pediatric Tourette syndrome in June 2026. His responsibilities included guiding the program through clinical development and coordinating the activities necessary to support the regulatory submission.
Before Emalex, Munschauer served as Chief Medical Officer at MedDay Pharmaceuticals and Marathon Pharmaceuticals. At Marathon, he played a key role in developing pre- and post-approval strategies for therapies addressing multiple sclerosis (MS) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. He also served as the medical lead for interactions with the FDA, giving him extensive experience working directly with regulators on complex neurological drug development programs.
His industry career also includes significant leadership experience at Biogen. There, Munschauer served as Vice President and Chief Medical Advisor and later as Vice President and Global Head of Medical Affairs. In these positions, he led a global medical organization of more than 250 employees and was responsible for integrated medical launch activities for important multiple sclerosis treatments, including Tecfidera and Plegridy.
Earlier in his pharmaceutical career, he held senior U.S. medical affairs positions at EMD Serono. These roles gave him experience across medical strategy, clinical development, regulatory engagement and commercialization in the neurology field.
Academic Career Spanning More Than Two Decades
Munschauer’s experience extends well beyond the pharmaceutical industry. He spent more than 20 years at the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he served as the Irvin and Rosemary Smith Professor and Chair of Neurology and Chief of the Jacobs Neurological Institute.
His academic work focused heavily on neurological diseases and clinical research. During his time at the institution, he held the original Investigational New Drug (IND) application for interferon beta-1a in multiple sclerosis and conducted a pivotal study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The study was significant because it became the first to demonstrate a slowing of disability progression in multiple sclerosis. The findings contributed to the development and eventual approval of Avonex, establishing an important milestone in the treatment of MS.
Munschauer has also served as a Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator on more than 50 Phase 1 through Phase 4 clinical trials. His research experience has covered multiple sclerosis and cerebrovascular disease, giving him extensive familiarity with clinical trial design, patient recruitment, study execution, data interpretation and regulatory requirements.
In addition to his clinical research activities, Munschauer has authored more than 90 peer-reviewed scientific publications. His academic background provides a strong foundation for his new role at Prilenia, particularly as the company seeks to generate high-quality evidence from its late-stage clinical programs.
Leadership at a Critical Stage for Prilenia
Prilenia’s decision to appoint Munschauer comes at a critical point in the company’s development. The company is advancing Phase 3 programs in two serious neurodegenerative conditions that currently have substantial unmet medical needs.
Huntington’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder associated with movement abnormalities, cognitive decline and psychiatric symptoms. The disease is caused by a genetic mutation and progressively affects the nervous system. Despite advances in understanding the disease, treatment options capable of altering its underlying progression remain limited.
ALS is another devastating neurodegenerative condition that progressively damages nerve cells responsible for voluntary muscle movement. As the disease advances, patients can experience increasing muscle weakness and loss of motor function. The disease can progress rapidly, creating an urgent need for new treatment approaches.
Prilenia is investigating pridopidine as a potential treatment for both conditions. The company believes the therapy could potentially address important biological mechanisms associated with neurodegeneration and disease progression.
The company’s PRECISE-HD and PREVAiLS studies are therefore central to its development strategy. Munschauer will play a key role in overseeing the medical aspects of these programs and helping ensure that the trials are conducted according to rigorous clinical and regulatory standards.
Focus on Clinical Execution
Michael R. Hayden, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Prilenia Therapeutics, welcomed Munschauer to the company and highlighted his broad experience in neurological drug development.
“Rick is a renowned neurologist and seasoned pharmaceutical executive who has spent his entire career at the front line of neurodegenerative disease – firstly, as an academic clinician and researcher, and then as a leader behind some of the most consequential neurology drug development programs of the past three decades,” Hayden said.
According to Hayden, Munschauer has experience designing and delivering clinical trials from first-in-human studies through regulatory approval and subsequent development. This experience is particularly relevant as Prilenia moves forward with its two registrational Phase 3 programs.
“As we execute PRECISE-HD and PREVAiLS, our two registrational Phase 3 studies in HD and ALS respectively, that combination of clinical judgement, regulatory experience and operational discipline will bring significant value to Prilenia, and to patients,” Hayden added.
The company expects Munschauer’s experience to help strengthen its clinical development strategy while maintaining close engagement with investigators, regulators and patient communities.
Munschauer Highlights Prilenia’s Mission
Munschauer said that Prilenia’s focus on Huntington’s disease and ALS was a major factor in his decision to join the company.
“Prilenia is currently tackling two devastatingly intractable diseases, in HD and ALS, where the unmet need is stark, and where we now have a possibility of changing the course of illness,” Munschauer said.
He also pointed to the clinical development history surrounding pridopidine as an important attraction.
“What drew me here is the clarity of the mission and the pridopidine story, which has already garnered compelling data,” he said.
As CMO, Munschauer said his primary focus will be on clinical execution and ensuring that Prilenia’s pivotal studies are conducted to a high standard.
“My focus will be on execution — running our pivotal HD and ALS studies to the highest standard, generating the evidence regulators need, and staying close to the clinical and patient communities whose participation makes all this possible,” he added.
His comments emphasize the importance of both scientific rigor and patient engagement as Prilenia advances its late-stage development programs.
Strong Educational and Clinical Background
Munschauer has an interdisciplinary educational background that combines medicine, engineering and clinical neurology. He earned an MD, CM from McGill University, along with an MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a BS in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering from Duke University.
He completed his neurology residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, one of the leading academic medical centers in the United States. He subsequently completed a fellowship in neurologic and neurosurgical intensive care at The National Hospital for Nervous Diseases in London.
Munschauer is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology (FAAN), reflecting his standing within the neurology profession. He has also contributed to national organizations focused on multiple sclerosis, having served on the National Board of Directors and the National Medical Advisory Board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
His combination of medical training, engineering expertise, academic research and pharmaceutical leadership gives him a broad perspective on the challenges associated with developing therapies for complex neurological disorders.
Supporting the Next Phase of Prilenia’s Development
The appointment of Munschauer strengthens Prilenia’s leadership team as the company transitions through an important phase of clinical development. With two registrational Phase 3 programs underway, the company faces the complex task of generating robust evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of pridopidine while maintaining effective communication with regulatory authorities, investigators and patient communities.
Munschauer’s previous experience includes virtually every major stage of the drug development process, from first-in-human clinical trials and large-scale Phase 3 studies to regulatory submissions and post-approval activities. His background in both academic medicine and the pharmaceutical industry may help Prilenia integrate scientific and operational priorities as it advances its programs.
The company’s focus remains on developing potential treatments for people affected by Huntington’s disease and ALS, two conditions where significant medical needs remain.
With Munschauer joining as Chief Medical Officer, Prilenia aims to further strengthen its ability to execute its clinical strategy and advance its investigational programs. His appointment brings extensive neurological expertise and pharmaceutical development experience to the organization at a time when the company is pursuing potentially important milestones for pridopidine.
As PRECISE-HD and PREVAiLS progress, clinical data from these studies will be critical in determining the future development and regulatory path of pridopidine. Munschauer will be responsible for helping guide these efforts, with a focus on rigorous trial execution, meaningful clinical evidence and continued engagement with the patients and healthcare professionals involved in the programs.
About Prilenia
Prilenia is a private biopharmaceutical company driven by an unwavering commitment to scientific excellence and accelerating progress for people affected by HD, ALS and other neurodegenerative disorders. Our mission is simple but urgent: to develop and provide sustainable access to transformative medicines for people affected by devastating neurodegenerative diseases.