Leslie Meltzer joined Avilar in 2026 as CEO, bringing a proven track record of advancing therapies from discovery through regulatory approvals and commercialization. She has established deep expertise in development of treatments for highly complex disease, and she has successfully launched multiple medicines across diverse therapeutic areas and modalities include rare pediatric disease, autoimmune disease, and neurological disorders.
Most recently, Leslie was Chief Research and Development officer at Apellis, where she led the strategic prioritization of the company’s development pipeline of immunology assets and played a crucial role in the company’s acquisition by Biogen in 2026. Previously she was Chief Medical Officer at Orchard Therapeutics, where she advanced the company’s pipeline of gene therapies for rare diseases and secured FDA approval for Lenmeldy in metachromatic leukodystrophy. Leslie previously held senior roles at Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Biogen, and Actelion Pharmaceuticals, where she built and led Medical Affairs teams that shaped launch strategies, expanded scientific engagement, and delivered measurable impact.
She holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree in biology and neuroscience from Brandeis University.