Harmony Biosciences to Name Anastasiou CEO
Peter Anastasiou will become president and chief executive of Harmony Biosciences on January 1, 2027, succeeding Jeffrey M. Dayno.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in People
Harmony Biosciences' board of directors appointed Peter Anastasiou, the company's senior executive vice president and chief operating officer, to succeed Jeffrey M. Dayno as president and CEO effective January 1, 2027. Dayno will retire from the role and step down from the board on December 31, 2026.
Why it matters
The appointment is intended to support the company's upcoming growth objectives, according to Harmony Biosciences. Jeffrey S. Aronin said Anastasiou understands the business deeply and has contributed to strategy, pipeline and business development.
Harmony Biosciences reiterated 2026 WAKIX net revenue guidance of $1.0 billion to $1.04 billion ahead of the leadership change. The company did not specify how the transition will affect guidance for 2027 and beyond.
The players
Harmony Biosciences Holdings Inc
Harmony Biosciences is a pharmaceutical company focused on rare neurological and sleep disorders, and it markets WAKIX.
Peter Anastasiou
Peter Anastasiou is Harmony Biosciences' senior executive vice president and chief operating officer, who previously served as CEO of Capsida Biotherapeutics and as president of North America at Lundbeck.
Jeffrey M. Dayno
Jeffrey M. Dayno led Harmony Biosciences for nine years as president and CEO before retiring and remaining with the company as a non-executive advisor.
The details
Dayno will serve as a non-executive advisor during 2027 to support the transition and the company's growth objectives. Harmony Biosciences also remains on track to report BP-205 multiple ascending dose study data in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Timeline
December 31, 2026: Dayno retires as president and CEO and steps down from the board.
January 1, 2027: Anastasiou assumes the role of president and CEO.
Q4 2026: BP-205 multiple ascending dose study data expected.
Market Landscape
Internal promotions of operating executives to succeed long-tenured chief executives have become a common pattern among U.S. biopharmaceutical companies preparing for late-stage clinical readouts. Harmony's move places a chief operating officer in charge as its next Phase 3 and pipeline milestones approach.
For investors and patients who rely on WAKIX, the leadership change itself does not alter the product or its availability. The practical watch points are the 2026 revenue guidance and the BP-205 data expected later this year.
The takeaway
A pharmaceutical company elevating its chief operating officer to CEO signals continuity in operations and pipeline execution during a period of expected growth. Readers should watch whether the company meets its revenue guidance and reports the BP-205 data on schedule.
What happens next
Harmony Biosciences expects to report BP-205 multiple ascending dose study data in the fourth quarter of 2026, and Anastasiou takes over as CEO on January 1, 2027.
Further reading
Explore more People coverage of executive moves across the business sector.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sleep Review.
