New Haven-based Biohaven Ltd. has announced scientific leadership transitions designed to accelerate drug innovation and external collaborations, promoting David Pirman, Ph.D. to Executive Vice President and Head of Discovery while transitioning Bruce Car, Ph.D. from Chief Scientific Officer to a newly created Chief Innovation Officer role.
In his expanded role, Dr. Pirman will lead Biohaven's internal drug-discovery organization, overseeing research programs across the company's pipeline spanning neuroscience, immunology, and other therapeutic areas. Dr. Car, retiring as Chief Scientific Officer, will remain with the company as a part-time employee in the Chief Innovation Officer role effective July 13, 2026, focusing on scientific initiatives and external collaborations including leading multiple assets under Biohaven's collaboration with Bexorg, Inc., a New Haven-based techbio company. Dr. Car will continue to serve as an executive officer. Warren Volles, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, has also been designated an executive officer and will continue to lead the company's legal function.
Vlad Coric, M.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Biohaven, said, "We thank Bruce as he has played a central role in building Biohaven's scientific foundation and helping translate discovery insights into multiple IND-stage programs across our portfolio. We are pleased that he will continue to bring his expertise to Biohaven in this new part-time role, with a particular focus on our collaboration with Bexorg. David's promotion reflects his leadership and significant contributions to Biohaven's discovery efforts, as well as his strong alignment with our continued focus on scientific innovation across our diverse portfolio of drug candidates. Together, these two executive transitions will position us to sustain our discovery momentum and pursue new CNS therapies grounded in human biology and translational innovation."
"The timing of my retirement and transition reflects my complete confidence in Biohaven's discovery research platforms and leadership, and genuine excitement for the future of the Biohaven portfolio," said Dr. Bruce Car.
The Biohaven-Bexorg collaboration, announced in June 2025, is a multi-program research initiative using Bexorg's whole-brain discovery platform to demonstrate target engagement in relevant cell types and tissues and generate biomarkers, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relationships, and other mechanistic data supporting Biohaven preclinical programs.
