Boston-based Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Inc. said it appointed Murray Stewart as its chief medical officer.

He will join Rhythm Pharmaceuticals from Novelion Therapeutics Inc., where he served as head of research and development. Prior to that, he spent 18 years at GlaxoSmithKline PLC in various roles, including as the chief medical officer of the U.K.-based pharmaceutical giant.

Stewart is expected to help the company advance the development of setmelanotide and RM-853 to treat rare genetic disorders of obesity, Rhythm CEO Keith Gottesdiener said.