Zita Peach appointed Neuren Board Chair
Neuren Pharmaceuticals (ASX: NEU) has appointed Ms Zita Peach as Chair of the Board, following a “carefully considered succession process”. The announcement was made on 12 November 2026.
She succeeds Patrick Davies, who joined the Board in July 2018 and has served as Chair since May 2020. Ms Peach brings more than 35 years of healthcare executive leadership across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and medical devices.
Jon Pilcher, CEO & Managing Director
“The Neuren Board and management are grateful to Patrick for his exemplary leadership over a period in which Neuren’s business and valuation have been transformed. We now look forward to working with Zita to achieve the next stage of growth.”
Mr Davies also commented on the appointment, pointing to the experience his successor brings.
Patrick Davies
“I am delighted with all that Neuren has achieved so far and excited about the prospects for the future. Zita’s deep experience in mergers and acquisitions, licensing, global commercialisation and board governance will be very valuable as Neuren pursues its growth strategy in the years ahead.”
When big ASX news breaks, our subscribers know first
Inside Zita Peach’s healthcare leadership track record
Ms Peach’s background centres on commercial leadership and deal-making in the healthcare sector. Her career roles include:
- Executive Vice President, South Asia Pacific and Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand at Fresenius Kabi, driving double-digit growth over a sustained period
- A decade as Vice President, Business Development at CSL, leading licensing deals, partnerships, acquisitions, and early commercialisation of influenza vaccine internationally
- Commercial Director at Merck Sharp & Dohme
- Helping build AMRAD Pharmaceuticals from its launch
She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Melbourne and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Board and governance experience
Ms Peach has served on numerous public and private company boards. She chaired ASX-listed Pacific Smiles Group from 2020 to 2024, guiding it through the pandemic and a sale process.
| Organisation | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute | Chair | Current |
| Monash IVF Group, Icon Group, Nucleus Network, VetPartners | Non-Executive Director | Current |
| Starpharma, Visioneering Technologies, Hudson Institute of Medical Research | Director | Previous |
What Neuren’s new Chair takes on
Neuren is developing drug therapies for serious neurological disorders caused by genetic abnormalities or brain injury. Its therapies target the role of Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in the brain, using orally administered analogs of naturally occurring peptides.
The company’s pipeline and commercial position include:
- DAYBUE (trofinetide) is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Rett syndrome, and the oral solution is also approved by the European Medicines Agency, Health Canada and the Ministry of Health in Israel
- Neuren has granted an exclusive worldwide license to Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. for the development and commercialisation of trofinetide
- NNZ-2591 (ercanetide) is in clinical development for Phelan-McDermid syndrome, Pitt Hopkins syndrome and Angelman syndrome
- Neuren is conducting a Phase 3 “Koala” trial of NNZ-2591 in children aged 3 to 12 years with Phelan-McDermid syndrome, plus a 52-week open-label extension study
Orphan Drug Designation for NNZ-2591 now extends to a newborn brain injury, adding a fourth rare-disease status and broadening the pipeline beyond the three syndromes in clinical development.
Ms Peach’s background includes licensing and global commercialisation, areas that Mr Davies identified as valuable as Neuren pursues its growth strategy. Her CSL role involved leading licensing deals and partnerships.
The commercial base Ms Peach inherits is strengthening, with a recent royalty guidance upgrade tied to record quarterly DAYBUE sales and a European launch expected to follow.
Zita Peach
“I am delighted to be joining Neuren Pharmaceuticals at an important stage in the company’s evolution… I see significant opportunities to build on this foundation, advance the company’s pipeline and create sustainable long-term value for shareholders. I look forward to working with the Board, management team and our partners to guide Neuren through its next phase of growth, with a strong focus on strategic discipline, execution and delivering better outcomes for patients.”
Want Alerts Like This on the Biotech and Healthcare Stocks You Follow?
StockWire X Market Intelligence scores every announcement in our coverage for how significant it’s likely to be for investors, and which way it points, then alerts you on the stocks you follow. The first 1,000 founding members lock in 50% off for life: A$247 a year instead of the standard A$495. Join the founding waitlist today.