CBO Recruited for Leading AIDD Biotech Envisagenics
In February 2025, Occam Global, a leader in TechBio executive recruiting, placed Sudhir Rao as Chief Business Officer of Envisagenics, an AI-driven biotechnology company revolutionizing RNA splicing research and therapeutics.
Rao brings over 30 years of experience in the life sciences industry, with the last 15 years in business development, spanning both buy-side and sell-side positions in large pharma and small biotech across disease states. He has held business positions of increasing responsibility in multiple organizations, including most recently being SVP/Head of Business Development at Expansion Therapeutics, VP of Business Development at Genocea Biosciences, and Transactions Lead at Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
Rao earned his BA in Biochemistry, his MS in Epidemiology/Virology from the University of Virginia, and his MBA from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University.
About Envisagenics
Envisagenics, founded in 2014 as a spinout from the renowned Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), emerged from the pioneering work of Dr. Adrian R. Krainer, a leading expert in RNA splicing. The Krainer lab was the first to conduct in-vitro splicing studies, identify key regulatory proteins in alternative splicing, and uncover their roles in cancer and genetic diseases. This groundbreaking research contributed to the FDA approval of Spinraza, the first RNA therapeutic for treating Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).
Envisagenics is dedicated to simplifying complex biomedical data to accelerate the development of innovative therapeutics. By harnessing artificial intelligence and machine learning, the company focuses on discovering and developing RNA splicing-based therapies to address diseases caused by splicing errors, including various cancers and genetic disorders.
Central to Envisagenics' approach is their proprietary SpliceCore® platform, a cloud-based AI technology that analyzes vast amounts of tumor-specific RNA sequencing data to identify novel and disease-specific alternative splicing isoforms. This platform has expanded the search space for target discovery by 400-fold compared to traditional methods, enabling the identification of unique therapeutic targets and biomarkers with remarkable speed and precision. Through collaborations with biopharmaceutical companies and academic institutions, Envisagenics is pioneering the development of RNA-based therapeutics, aiming to transform the treatment landscape for patients with cancer and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
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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.