Stoke Therapeutics names Ian Smith as permanent CEO

Stoke Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: STOK) appointed Ian F. Smith as chief executive officer, the biotechnology company announced. Smith had served as interim CEO since March 2025 and has been a board member and company advisor since 2023.

Arthur Tzianabos will resume his role as chairman of the board after serving as executive chairman during the CEO search. Tzianabos has been a board member since 2018.

Smith brings over 30 years of finance and operations experience in biotechnology. He previously served as executive vice president, chief operating officer, and chief financial officer at Vertex Pharmaceuticals from 2001 to 2019. Since 2019, he has held board and advisory positions at several biotechnology companies.

The Bedford, Massachusetts-based company is currently conducting a global Phase 3 study of zorevunersen, its lead investigational medicine for Dravet syndrome. Dravet syndrome is a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy characterized by recurrent seizures and cognitive impairments.

In February 2025, Stoke entered a collaboration with Biogen Inc. to develop and commercialize zorevunersen. Under the agreement, Stoke retains exclusive rights in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, while Biogen receives exclusive commercialization rights for the rest of the world.

Smith currently serves as senior advisor to Bain Capital Life Sciences and holds board positions at multiple biotechnology companies including Solid Biosciences, Rivus Pharmaceuticals, Foghorn Therapeutics, and others. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from Manchester Metropolitan University.

The information is based on a company press release.

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