Caroline B. Kurtz

Dr. Caroline Kurtz joined Synlogic in October 2016 and is responsible for program leadership and portfolio planning and progression. Caroline has 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and has led several programs across various stages of development. Previously, Caroline was vice president and GC-C platform lead at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, where she drove the development of linaclotide (LINZESS®) from pre-IND through NDA approval and life-cycle management. In this role, she managed the linaclotide development collaborations with U.S. partner Forest (now Allergan), European partner Almirall, and Japanese partner Astellas. She also served as the portfolio lead for the discovery and development of new GC-C agonists, including identification of two additional clinical candidates. Prior to her role at Ironwood, Caroline served as director of infectious diseases at GelTex/Genzyme, where she led the discovery of novel polymeric compounds as anti-infectives for intestinal and pulmonary infections. Caroline has over 41 publications and has received several industries and academic honors for her work including being named by PharmaVoice as one of 2016’s 100 most inspiring people. Caroline received her Ph.D. in immunology from Harvard University in the laboratory of Dr. John Weis and carried out post-doctoral training in viral immunology and central nervous system demylelinating diseases in the laboratory of Dr. Robert Fujinami at the University of Utah. She received a B.S. in biochemistry from the University of New Hampshire.