CNS Pharmaceuticals Appoints Industry Veteran Rami Levin as President & CEO, Signaling New Era in Brain Cancer Treatment Development
CNS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:CNSP) has appointed Rami Levin, MBA, as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026, marking a significant leadership transition for the biopharmaceutical company focused on novel therapies for primary and metastatic cancers of the brain and central nervous system. The announcement, made on December 17, 2025, follows the departure of John Climaco from the CEO role.
Levin brings nearly 30 years of global leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry, spanning oncology, neurology, rare diseases, endocrinology, and cell and gene therapy. He has a demonstrated track record of successfully scaling organizations, advancing clinical programs, and creating substantial value. According to a company release, Levin’s expertise will be crucial as CNS Pharmaceuticals navigates its next phase of growth.
“We are grateful to John and his dedicated service to CNS Pharmaceuticals and wish him all the best in his next endeavors,” stated Faith Charles, Chair of the Board of Directors. “Looking ahead, Rami is a seasoned biotech leader with a rare combination of scientific depth, commercial execution, and capital markets expertise. His ability to navigate complex inflection points from clinical readouts to organizational scale-up makes him exceptionally well suited to lead CNS through its next phase of growth.”
Prior to joining CNS Pharmaceuticals, Levin served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Saniona and CEO of ImStem Biotechnology. He has also held senior leadership positions at Sobi, Merck Serono, and Schering AG, where he oversaw the launch and global scaling of several key brands, including Rebif®, Betaseron®, I picture®, Orfadin®, and Gamifant®. Notably, at Sobi, he spearheaded a transformation of the North American business, increasing revenues from approximately $46 million to over $500 million and expanding the team to over 300 employees.
“I am excited to join CNS at such a pivotal moment and build on the opportunity to realize the Company’s full potential with TPI 287 and beyond,” Levin commented. “CNS Pharmaceuticals has built a compelling scientific foundation and a meaningful opportunity to address significant unmet medical needs. I look forward to working closely with the board and team to advance the pipeline, strengthen the organization, and build long-term value for patients, partners, and shareholders.”
CNS Pharmaceuticals is currently developing TPI 287, an abeotaxane designed to stabilize microtubules and inhibit cell division, ultimately inducing apoptosis and cell death in cancer cells. Initial clinical data suggest TPI 287 has the potential to cross the blood-brain barrier, offering a promising avenue for treating CNS tumors. The drug candidate has been evaluated in over 350 patients in clinical trials, both as a standalone therapy and in combination with bevacizumab, for a range of cancers including glioblastoma, neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, and breast cancer metastatic to the brain. To date, TPI 287 has demonstrated a favorable safety profile and high tolerability among patients.
.
The appointment of Levin signals a strategic shift for CNS Pharmaceuticals as it aims to accelerate the development and commercialization of TPI 287 and expand its pipeline of innovative cancer treatments. The company’s focus remains on addressing the critical unmet needs of patients battling primary and metastatic cancers affecting the brain and central nervous system.
