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Rohan Palekar

Former CEO, 89bio, Roche Holding AG

Search every verified Rohan Palekar interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In an August 2023 appearance on the Business of Biotech podcast, Rohan Palekar, then CEO of 89bio, discussed the challenges and outlook for the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) therapeutics market. He described the field as highly difficult, noting that no drug had yet been approved despite significant investment, and attributed past failures to a rigorous FDA approval process, poorly designed clinical trials, and a wary investor base. Palekar characterized NASH as a heterogeneous, chronic, and asymptomatic disease rooted in metabolic dysregulation, and observed that drug development in the area is relatively recent, with the first clinical trials beginning only about 15 years ago. Palekar expressed optimism about 89bio's approach, stating that the company's molecule addresses both liver and systemic effects of the disease. He said that while the first drug to market would likely capture a large initial patient group, physicians would over time select the best therapeutic product based on safety, tolerability, and impact on the underlying metabolic condition. He also emphasized the importance of capital stewardship and disciplined deployment of investor funds, citing 89bio's core values of being patient-oriented and science-driven. Palekar noted the company was entering two Phase 3 programs and stressed the need to remain nimble and humble in response to evolving science and competition.

Recent appearances

  • Why MASH Matters: The Next Steps in Liver Disease Innovation with 89bio’s Rohan Palekar

    September 10, 2025 · 📺 Xtalks

    In this episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Vera Kovacevic speaks with Rohan Palekar, CEO of 89bio, about one of the fastest-growing public health challenges: metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), also known as fatty liver disease. MASH is projected to affect more than 27 million Americans by 2030, yet it remains a largely “silent” epidemic. Palekar discusses what sets MASH apart from other liver diseases, the urgent need for therapies that can rapidly reverse fibrosis in advanced patients and the unique challenges drug developers face in addressin…

    Watch on YouTube ↗

  • Facing NASH Therapeutic Skepticism With 89bio's Rohan Palekar

    August 14, 2023 · 📺 Life Science Connect

    The non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) therapeutics market has proven to be an 11/10 on the difficulty scale. Despite billions of big biopharma dollars invested in therapeutic development, and a few close calls, no therapeutics has yet reached the finish line. On this episode of the Business of Biotech, 89bio CEO Rohan Palekar gives us the insider's perspective on the challenges that have beset the field, from a rigorous FDA approval process to poorly designed clinical trials and a wary investor base. Palekar also expresses optimism in his explanation of how, through a focus on safety, conve…

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  • 89bio - Fighting A Growing Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Epidemic

    July 20, 2021 · 📺 HPR

    As much of the world’s focus this past year has been on making progress in fighting off the COVID-19 pandemic, some remained focused on other raging epidemics that existed prior to the emergence of COVID-19 and continue to worsen over time. For Rohan Palekar, CEO of 89bio, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical start-up, the raging epidemic is non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and he discusses how they haven't allowed the pandemic or the failures of other NASH treatments to hinder their progress of developing a solution for NASH. He talks about what’s on the horizon for 89bio, including plans…

    Watch on YouTube ↗

The summary and quote tags on this profile are produced with AI assistance from verified, first-person interview transcripts, then checked by our team to confirm the speaker's identity and the accuracy of every quote. See how we verify →