Anavex Names Terrie Kellmeyer CEO
Anavex Life Sciences Corp. appointed its interim chief executive as President and Chief Executive Officer and added her to the Board of Directors.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in People
Anavex Life Sciences Corp. appointed Terrie Kellmeyer, Ph.D., as President and Chief Executive Officer on November 1, 2026. Kellmeyer, who previously served as Interim Chief Executive Officer, also joined the company's Board of Directors.
Why it matters
The appointment makes Kellmeyer's interim leadership permanent as Anavex advances blarcamesine (ANAVEX®2-73) across Alzheimer's disease, Rett syndrome and Fragile X syndrome. Her role gives the company a single leader for its active clinical programs in the United States.
Kellmeyer brings more than 30 years of biopharmaceutical industry experience to the role. Anavex holds active INDs across each of its core indications, including blarcamesine in Fragile X syndrome, which the FDA cleared, while the release does not disclose compensation terms.
The players
Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
Anavex is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing blarcamesine (ANAVEX®2-73) for neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Terrie Kellmeyer, Ph.D.
Kellmeyer is a biopharmaceutical executive with more than 30 years of industry experience who holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from SUNY Syracuse.
Peter Donhauser
Donhauser is a member of the Anavex Board of Directors who spoke on behalf of the Board about the appointment.
The details
Anavex's Board of Directors appointed Kellmeyer, who had been serving as Interim Chief Executive Officer, to the permanent post. Under her interim leadership, the company completed key clinical pharmacology studies, and Peter Donhauser said the Board is confident she is the ideal leader to drive Anavex to its full potential.
Timeline
November 1, 2026: The Board of Directors appoints Kellmeyer as President and Chief Executive Officer.
November 3, 2026: Anavex publicly announces the appointment.
Season Trajectory
Anavex's blarcamesine has active INDs across Alzheimer's disease, Rett syndrome and Fragile X syndrome, and the FDA cleared the Fragile X application. The permanent CEO appointment places one executive over all of these programs as they move forward.
For patients and families following blarcamesine, the permanent leadership change signals continuity in the clinical programs Kellmeyer has overseen as interim CEO. The release does not describe any change to trial timing or patient access.
The takeaway
A permanent leader who has already run the company's clinical pharmacology work can give investors and patients a clearer picture of Anavex's near-term direction. Watch for future updates on the blarcamesine INDs as the new CEO sets priorities.
Further reading
For more executive appointments in the biotech sector, see People coverage.
