Occam Places CEO for Clinical-Stage Immunology Company
In February 2025, Occam Global recruited industry veteran Purnanand Sarma, PhD, as CEO of Aro Biotherapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing potent, targeted short-interfering RNA (siRNA) medicines. As part of a planned leadership transition, Aro’s co-founder, Sue Dillon, PhD, will transition from her role as President and CEO to continue serving as Chair and advisor to the company alongside board members Liz McKee Anderson and Chris Picariello.
Sarma brings an extensive background in drug development, from discovery through approval, and a robust track record of value creation, including IPOs, M&As, and asset and company transactions. He has over thirteen years of experience as an operating CEO and board member for private and public companies, most recently as CEO of Immunome (NASDAQ: IMNM). Prior to Immunome, Sarma served as the CEO of TARIS Biomedical, leading the company through the sale of its first program for interstitial cystitis to Allergan before its acquisition by J&J in 2019.
Sarma has a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) degree from Andhra University in Visakhapatnam, India.
About Aro Biotherapeutics
Aro Biotherapeutics, headquartered in Philadelphia, is at the forefront of developing tissue-targeted genetic medicines. Their mission is to revolutionize treatment paradigms by creating therapies that precisely modulate gene expression within diseased tissues, thereby enhancing efficacy and safety. Central to this mission is their proprietary Centyrin platform, which enables the delivery of therapeutic payloads directly to specific tissues, addressing diseases that have long eluded effective treatment.
The company's innovative approach is exemplified by its lead pipeline program, ABX1100, presently in Phase I, designed to treat Pompe disease. This condition is characterized by the accumulation of glycogen in muscle tissues due to a genetic enzyme deficiency. ABX1100 employs a Centyrin-siRNA conjugate to inhibit glycogen synthase 1 (GYS1), the enzyme responsible for glycogen synthesis, thereby reducing glycogen buildup in affected muscles. This targeted strategy exemplifies Aro's commitment to addressing unmet medical needs and showcases the versatility and potential of its Centyrin platform in developing novel therapies for a range of orphan genetic and immune-mediated diseases.
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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.