Occam Recruits CMO for In Vivo Cell Therapy Leader Umoja Biopharma
In January 2025, Occam recruited Luke Walker, MD as Chief Medical Officer of Umoja Biopharma, a Seattle-based, clinical-stage biotechnology company aiming to develop in vivo cell therapies that improve the reach, efficacy, and access of CAR T-cell therapies in oncology and autoimmunity. Luke will lead Umoja's clinical, regulatory, and medical functions, including its two clinical stage in vivo CAR T programs in B cell malignancies.
Luke, a highly successful serial CMO, brings more than two decades of hematology and clinical development experience, previously served as Chief Medical Officer of Harpoon Therapeutics through its acquisition by Merck in 2024. Prior to Harpoon, Luke led clinical development for programs at Seagen. He holds an MD from the University of Oklahoma's College of Medicine.
Umoja recently announced the closing of a $100 million Series C financing. Double Point Ventures and DCVC Bio co-led the financing, which was participated in by new and existing investors, including ARK Invest, Cormorant Asset Management, MPM Capital, Qiming Venture Partners USA, RTW Investments, Alexandria Venture Investments, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, CaaS Capital, Emerson Collective Investments managed by Yosemite, K2 HealthVentures, Myeloma Investment Fund, University of Minnesota Endowment, and other prominent life science investors.
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Occam Global is a leading executive search and advisory partner for entrepreneurs, investors, and corporations targeting exceptional goals across the life sciences, deep tech, and venture capital sectors worldwide. Since 2012, Occam has collaborated with top founders, CEOs, and investors across the tech industry to provide high-performing leaders who fuel growth. From stealth startups to public markets, we recruit senior executives, advise on organizational strategies, and invest alongside visionary teams to build innovative companies. Occam’s success is rooted in our proven ability to attract outstanding business and scientific leaders, seamless access to rare talent, and a strong commitment to results guided by high ethics and enlightened aggression. Whether you’re launching, leading, or investing, we are here to support growth through the power of talent.