Inventiva names Chris Benecchi as chief operating officer

Inventiva announced on August 31, 2026 that it has appointed Chris Benecchi as Chief Operating Officer. Benecchi will oversee the company's operational preparedness as it nears topline results from the pivotal Phase 3 "NATiV3" study of lanifibranor in MASH, expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, and as it readies for potential commercialization.¹

Pending regulatory approval, the company anticipates a possible U.S. launch of lanifibranor in 2028 and says it is building out the organization, infrastructure, and commercial capabilities needed to support that launch.¹

CEO Andrew Obenshain called the appointment part of preparing the company for its next stage, saying Benecchi brings commercial, operational, and launch experience.

Benecchi's background spans three decades in biopharmaceutical leadership. He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Motric Bio, an Aditum Bio company, and before that held Chief Operating Officer, Chief Business Officer and Chief Commercial Officer roles at Sage Therapeutics, where he was involved in the U.S. launch of ZURZUVAE.¹ Earlier in his career he led global launch readiness for UCB's bimekizumab, marketed as BIMZELX, and directed global commercial excellence and launch readiness for rare-disease therapies at Alexion, with prior commercial roles at Acorda Therapeutics, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and Johnson & Johnson.¹ He earned an MBA from Duke's Fuqua School of Business and an undergraduate degree from Colby College, according to the release.

Lanifibranor, a pan-PPAR agonist, is currently being tested in the NATiV3 pivotal Phase 3 trial for adult MASH patients; it remains investigational, with no regulatory approval and unestablished safety and efficacy.¹