Former CDC Director Robert Redfield Joins Turn Therapeutics as Chief Scientific Officer

Turn Therapeutics has appointed Robert R. Redfield, MD, former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as chief scientific officer as the company advances the clinical development of GX-03 in atopic dermatitis (AD).¹

In the new role, Redfield will contribute to Turn Therapeutics’ scientific and clinical strategy for GX-03 across AD, onychomycosis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and potential additional indications. His work will focus particularly on cytokine signaling and the host inflammatory response to microbial stimuli, according to the company.¹

The appointment comes as Turn Therapeutics advances its phase 2 study of GX-03 in AD, with enrollment expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026, according to information provided by the company.

Scientific Leadership Focuses on Inflammation and Microbial Activity

Redfield brings more than 4 decades of experience spanning immunology, microbiology, infectious disease, clinical research, and public health. He served as the 18th director of the CDC and previously held scientific and clinical leadership positions at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he was professor of medicine, microbiology, and immunology and chief of infectious diseases.¹

Earlier in his career, Redfield spent approximately 2 decades in the US Army Medical Corps conducting clinical and laboratory research at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He retired from the Army with the rank of colonel.¹

At Turn Therapeutics, Redfield will work alongside founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Bradley Burnam; Stephen M. Hahn, MD, the company’s executive clinical and regulatory lead and former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration; and Turn’s clinical investigators and scientific advisors.¹

“Dr. Redfield’s expertise sits directly at the intersection of what we do, which is understanding how microbes, cytokine signaling, and the host immune response interact to drive disease,” Burnam said in the announcement.¹

Redfield said the company’s approach centers on the hypothesis that microbial activity, cytokine signaling, and host inflammation are interconnected contributors to disease. He will also help guide the company’s exploration of additional indications for GX-03.¹

GX-03 Development in Atopic Dermatitis

GX-03 is Turn Therapeutics’ lead therapeutic candidate and is being developed as a targeted, non-systemic therapy designed to act directly at the site of disease. The company is currently evaluating the candidate in AD and is also developing it for onychomycosis.¹

Turn Therapeutics’ approach to AD focuses on the relationship among skin barrier dysfunction, microbial imbalance, immune activation, and itch. According to the company, preclinical research with GX-03 has demonstrated effects on inflammatory mediators implicated in AD, including interleukin (IL)-36 and IL-31.¹

The company also reported that recent interim findings from the program suggested favorable efficacy and safety profiles, although detailed efficacy and safety results were not included in the September 9 announcement.¹

Redfield is expected to contribute to the scientific foundation of the GX-03 program, study design, and the identification of potential future indications for the platform.

“Turn Therapeutics is pursuing a compelling hypothesis, that microbial activity, cytokine signaling, and host inflammation are linked drivers of disease,” Redfield said. “I am eager to help build out the company’s path into new indications, and communicating that work clearly to the medical, regulatory, and investment communities.”¹

References

1. Turn Therapeutics appoints former CDC director Robert R. Redfield, M.D., as chief scientific officer. Turn Therapeutics Inc. September 9, 2026. Accessed September 9, 2026.