GOA Therapeutics Appoints Former Gilead Executive Dr. Dean Hakanson as Chief Medical Officer

GOA Therapeutics Appoints Former Gilead Executive Dr. Dean Hakanson as Chief Medical Officer

November 3, 2026 Dr. Michael Lee – Health Editor Health

GOA Therapeutics Appoints Former Gilead Executive as Chief Medical Officer

GOA Therapeutics Corporation appointed Dean Hakanson as chief medical officer on November 2, 2026, bringing the former Gilead Sciences executive to lead medical affairs strategy for the company’s lead drug candidate, GOA26. The West Palm Beach, Florida-based biotechnology company advances its investigational treatment for acute alcohol intoxication toward human clinical trials.

    Key Clinical Takeaways:

  • GOA Therapeutics appointed former Gilead Sciences executive Dean Hakanson as chief medical officer to oversee medical affairs for GOA26.
  • GOA26 is an investigational intravenous treatment combining an engineered enzyme with an acetaldehyde scavenger, designed for hospital emergency departments and trauma centers.
  • Preclinical studies in pigs showed blood alcohol concentrations 61.3% lower than untreated controls 20 minutes after administration, with an IND application planned for late 2026.

Dean Hakanson Brings Four Decades of Biopharmaceutical Experience

Hakanson brings 40 years of experience spanning clinical medicine and biopharmaceutical development. Prior to his tenure at GOA, he directed U.S. medical affairs at Gilead Sciences during the launch of remdesivir, an antiviral treatment used in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. His career also includes senior leadership positions at Novartis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Genentech, and GlaxoSmithKline, with responsibilities covering clinical development, medical affairs, market access, and commercialization. Earlier in his career, Hakanson practiced anesthesiology and treated patients in trauma surgery and critical care settings.

Having treated dangerously intoxicated patients who presented at the trauma center, I know firsthand the clear unmet medical need and how desperately our healthcare system needs a drug to treat acute alcohol intoxication, Hakanson said.

In his new role, Hakanson will chair the GOA26 Drug Development Board, advise on clinical trial design and execution, and lead engagement with physicians, researchers, and other medical stakeholders.

GOA26 Reduces Blood Alcohol Concentrations in Preclinical Studies

GOA26 is being developed as an intravenous treatment for use in hospital emergency departments and trauma centers. The experimental therapy pairs an engineered enzyme built to speed up alcohol metabolism with a second compound designed to bind acetaldehyde, an intermediary metabolite of alcohol that can be toxic.

In preclinical studies involving pigs administered an oral ethanol dose of 1.2 g/kg, animals treated with GOA26 had blood alcohol concentrations 61.3% lower than untreated controls 20 minutes after administration, according to company data. GOA presented these findings at the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma’s annual meeting and Clinical Congress of Acute Care Surgery in Dallas on September 17, 2026. GOA26 remains in preclinical development, and its safety and effectiveness in humans have not been established.

Subject to regulatory approval, GOA intends to file an Investigational New Drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before 2026 concludes and initiate human clinical trials over the course of 2027.

Company Launches Online Stock Offerings to Fund Drug Development

To support its development pipeline, GOA launched online stock offerings totaling up to $300 million. The capital-raising plan features up to $75 million through a Tier 2 Regulation A offering alongside up to $225 million via separate exempt offerings. These offerings represent potential fundraising capacity rather than capital already raised.

Advancing a drug candidate through human studies and toward commercialization requires leadership that bridges clinical development, medical affairs and real-world clinical adoption, said Tami Ehrmann Barr, MD, PhD, chief scientist of GOA Therapeutics. Dean’s clinical expertise, medical affairs leadership and experience launching novel therapies will be critical to moving GOA26 from development to market.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.

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