Mesoblast names interim operations chief as it eyes LVAD bleeding BLA, back pain readout

Mesoblast has put an interim chief operating officer in place as it readies rexlemestrocel-L, an experimental cell product, for a possible market launch. In an update on 9-10 November 2026, the company said Dr Gregory George will hold the role while it looks for a permanent hire.

The company also reshuffled senior responsibilities. Dr Eric Rose will concentrate on his job as chief medical officer and step down from the Board.

On the regulatory side, Mesoblast said it has reached alignment with the US Food and Drug Administration on a Biologics License Application for rexlemestrocel-L. The proposed use is cutting major gastrointestinal bleeding in people with end-stage heart failure who rely on a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The material available gives no submission date and no further trial detail, so the commercial scale of that opportunity cannot yet be sized from this update.

The second programme, in chronic low back pain, is further from the market. Mesoblast expects Phase 3 results in the second half of 2027. The operations hire suggests the company wants manufacturing, supply and launch planning to move in step with those milestones, though it has not set out specifics.