Prelude Therapeutics finance officer departs

Prelude Therapeutics is now on the search for a new chief financial officer. | DBT PHOTO BY KATIE TABELING

WILMINGTON — Prelude Therapeutics Chief Financial Officer Laurent Chardonnet has stepped down from the post and the life sciences company will now be on the search for his successor.

Chardonnet had stepped down from the position on April 8, but he will continue to consult for Prelude until October for an hourly rate of $500. This would provide Prelude a smooth and efficient transition, according to a company representative.

“Prelude appreciates Mr. Chardonnet’s contributions and wishes him well in his future endeavors. An ongoing search for a permanent Chief Financial Officer is underway,” read a Prelude statement to the Delaware Business Times.

Prelude Therapeutics is an upstart Wilmington company that has drawn international attention for its  work on small molecule inhibitors, a developing therapy that is more targeted in approach with fewer side effects than traditional cancer therapies like chemotherapy or radiation. The company recently cut the ribbon on its headquarters at the Chestnut Run Innovation and Science Park in January. 

Chardonnet and Prelude Therapeutics CEO Kris Vaddi both worked at Incyte Corp. Vaddi working 14 years at the drug developer until he left to start his own company while Chardonnet worked at Incyte for a total of 15 years, leaving as he was working as a vice president and principal accounting officer. 

After he left Incyte, Chardonnet served as the chief financial officer Axcella Health Inc. He also worked in key roles at DrugAbuse Pharmaceutical, Inc and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

During his time as Prelude’s finance executive, Chardonnet worked with the company to deliver  in $166.6 million through its public offering in 2020. By the end of the third quarter of 2023, the company reported having cash or equivalents of $230.5 million, reportedly giving it a current runway to 2026. 

Chardonnet will be paid $333,750, or nine months of his salary, in severance in monthly installments, according to company filings.

In the meantime, Prelude’s Board of Directors has named chief legal officer and corporate secretary Bryant Lim to serve as interim head financial officer.

Lim joined Prelude in 2023, previously serving in executive roles at Aceragen Inc., a biotechnology company previously known as Idera Pharmaceuticals. While there, he oversaw business development and corporate governance activities. Lim also served as Incyte’s vice president of legal and global chief compliance officer.

Lim currently serves on the board of directors for Life Sciences of Pennsylvania, the statewide biotechnology industry association, a role he has held since May 2019.