MBX Biosciences names new CEO and CFO amid leadership shift

MBX Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: MBX) has appointed Steve Hoerter as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, replacing Kent Hawryluk, who is stepping down as President, CEO, and board member, according to a company statement. The changes took effect immediately.

Hoerter previously served as Executive Chairman of MBX's board, a role he assumed in November 2025. He joined the board in April 2025. Before MBX, he served as President and CEO of Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, leading that company through its acquisition by Ono Pharmaceutical in 2024.

The company also named John Smither as permanent Chief Financial Officer. Smither had served as Interim CFO since March 2026. He previously held the CFO role at Arcutis Biotherapeutics, where he led its initial public offering and four follow-on financings, and has also served as CFO at Sienna Biopharmaceutics, UNITY Biotechnology, and Kythera Biopharmaceuticals.

Hawryluk co-founded MBX and led the company through its IPO. Hoerter credited him with building the company's pipeline of precision peptide therapies over six years.

MBX said it remains on track for three milestones in the second half of 2026: initiating a Phase 3 trial of canvuparatide for chronic hypoparathyroidism, nominating a GLP-1/GIP/GCGR triple agonist candidate for obesity, and releasing 12-week multiple ascending dose data from MBX 4291.

Additional details on the leadership changes will be filed in a Current Report on Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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