Polaryx Therapeutics appoints Will Charlton, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer for SOTERIA Phase 2 trial
Polaryx Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing innovative therapies for rare pediatric lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs), has appointed Will Charlton, M.D., M.A.S., as Chief Medical Officer. The appointment comes as Polaryx prepares to initiate its SOTERIA Phase 2 trial in the fourth quarter of 2026, marking a significant step forward in the company's clinical development.
Dr. Charlton brings over 15 years of expertise in rare disease and pediatric drug development, including roles as Chief Medical Officer and in clinical development. Prior to joining Polaryx, he served as Senior Vice President, Clinical Development, at Skeletal Dysplasia at Tyra Biosciences, where he led a Phase 2 clinical trial program. Dr. Charlton also served as Chief Medical Officer at Spruce Biosciences, where he focused on congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a rare inherited genetic disorder, with a particular emphasis on pediatric patients.
“Joining Polaryx at this pivotal stage of the company’s clinical development is an exciting opportunity,” said Dr. Charlton. “I am impressed by the extensive preclinical work and established safety profile supporting PLX-200, and I look forward to bringing my experience to the SOTERIA trial.”
Alex Yang, Polaryx’s Chief Executive Officer, expressed his enthusiasm for Dr. Charlton’s appointment. “Will’s extensive experience as a Chief Medical Officer and his background as a pediatrician make him an excellent fit to lead our SOTERIA trial. With SOTERIA set to initiate in Q4 2026, his proven track record will be invaluable as we execute the trial and advance key clinical milestones.”
SOTERIA is a Phase 2, open-label, single-arm trial designed to assess the safety, tolerability, and clinical activity of Polaryx’s lead drug candidate, PLX-200, in CLN2, CLN3, Krabbe disease, and Sandhoff disease. These LSDs represent approximately one-quarter of the LSD population. The trial is designed to provide important clinical data while maintaining a flexible and resource-efficient trial design. Polaryx received a safe to proceed letter from the FDA in October 2025 and plans to initiate SOTERIA with trial sites in the United States followed by other foreign jurisdictions.
Dr. Charlton’s background in clinical practice as a board-certified pediatric endocrinologist, combined with his extensive experience in rare disease clinical development, positions him well to lead Polaryx’s efforts. He has also served as a board member of ReSurge International, providing governance oversight and strategic guidance to a global nonprofit advancing access to reconstructive surgical care in underserved regions.
Dr. Charlton earned his medical degree from the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and completed his pediatric internship and residency at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He holds a Master of Advanced Studies in Clinical Research and a fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology from the University of California, San Francisco. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from the University of the Pacific and is licensed by the Medical Board of California.
Polaryx Therapeutics is focused on developing patient-friendly small molecule and gene therapy treatments for rare LSDs. The company’s most advanced product candidate, PLX-200, targets several LSDs and is set to be evaluated in the SOTERIA trial. The SOTERIA trial is expected to initiate in the fourth quarter of 2026 and will provide crucial data to inform the future development of PLX-200.