Leading the Charge in Autoimmune Innovation

Dr. Kress brings decades of executive leadership experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of MorphoSys, where he led the development, approval and commercialization of Monjuvi®️ (tafasitamab), and advanced the company’s pipeline through the landmark acquisition of Constellation Pharmaceuticals in 2021, strengthening MorphoSys’ position in oncology innovation and ultimately leading to its subsequent acquisition by Novartis in 2024. Prior to that, he was CEO of Syntimmune, guiding its lead immunology program through to acquisition by Alexion Pharmaceuticals. He currently serves on the Board of Sanofi S.A. and has held senior roles across leading biopharma companies. Dr. Kress holds graduate and post-graduate degrees in biochemistry and molecular and cellular pharmacology from Ecole normale superieure, Paris, and an M.D. from Faculte Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris.

Daniella Beckman has deep financial and operational experience across the biotechnology industry, having worked with both private and publicly traded companies throughout her career. At Tango Therapeutics, Daniella oversees finance, investor relations, and business development. Prior to joining Tango, she was a consultant to early-stage biotechnology companies, leading financial activities and building companies’ financial infrastructures. She also served as Interim Chief Financial Officer for Neon Therapeutics. Previously, Daniella was Chief Financial Officer of Idenix Pharmaceuticals, responsible for finance, investor relations, and IT until it was acquired by Merck in 2014. Earlier in her career, she held various finance positions at Coley Pharmaceuticals, Biogen Idec, and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Daniella received her BA in business administration and accounting from Boston University. In addition to Vor Bio, she also serves on the Board of Directors of Blueprint Medicines.

Mr. Cumbo has served as Solid’s President and Chief Executive Officer and as a director since December 2022.

Mr. Cumbo served as the President and Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of directors for AavantiBio from October 2020 until December 2022.From January 2013 to October 2020, Mr. Cumbo held positions of increasing responsibility at Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc., a precision genetic medicine company, ultimately serving as Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer.

From 2011 to 2013, Mr. Cumbo served as Vice President of Sales and Treatment Education for Vertex, launching Incivek, a treatment for hepatitis C, and from 2010 to 2011, he served as Area director for Vertex. Prior to Vertex, Mr. Cumbo served in multiple commercial roles supporting the HIV, HBV and cardiovascular franchises at Gilead Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company.

Mr. Cumbo has served on the Board of Directors of Verve Therapeutics, Inc. since June 2022. Mr. Cumbo previously served on the Board of Directors of RA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company acquired by UCB, Brussels, from November 2018 to April 2020.

Mr. Cumbo received a Bachelor of Science in Laboratory Technology from Auburn University.

Michel Detheux is the President, and Chief Executive Officer at iTeos Therapeutics.

He has held the role of Chief Executive Officer since the company’s inception in 2012. During his tenure, Michel has led the company from its origins to NASDAQ listing, raising $335MM in 2020 through a crossover round and IPO. More recently, he spearheaded the strategic collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline in 2021 to co-develop and co-commercialize iTeos’ differentiated anti-TIGIT antibody for a total value of $2B. He previously served as a director at Ludwig Cancer Research and worked in various scientific and business development roles at Ogeda (f/k/a Euroscreen). Michel currently serves as Chairman of the Board at Egle Therapeutics.

Dr. Detheux holds a degree of Bio-engineer and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Université Catholique de Louvain, and a business certificate from Solvay Business School.

Erez Kalir brings a wealth of experience as an investor, entrepreneur, and thought leader with a deep focus on life sciences and technology. He currently serves as the Managing Member of Martial Eagle Fund and as a Venture Partner at FJ Labs, renowned for its leadership in early-stage venture investments. He also authors the influential Biotech Frontiers newsletter for Porter & Co., which provides incisive analysis on cutting edge biotech companies. Prior to his current roles, Erez worked directly for legendary investor Julian H. Robertson at Tiger Management, advising on investments in biotech and health care, and co-founded and led Sabretooth Capital, a hedge fund that managed assets for prominent institutions and families. He began his business career at McKinsey & Co. and Eton Park after serving in several branches of the Federal Government.

Erez is a Rhodes Scholar and holds an MSc in cell biology from Magdalen College, Oxford, a JD from Yale Law School, and an A.B. with highest honors from Stanford University. Erez is a life member of The Council on Foreign Relations and of The Economic Club of New York.

Fouad Namouni, MD brings more than 20 years of oncology and cancer immunotherapy drug development expertise, as well as clinical experience as a pediatric oncologist. Since September 2020, he has served as President of Research & Development at Blueprint Medicines, providing key leadership as the company built a fully integrated global business and overseeing all aspects of research and development across a broad pipeline of innovative medicines in oncology/hematology and allergy/inflammation. Prior to joining Blueprint Medicines, Fouad served in leadership roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) since 1999, including as the global development lead for the company’s practice-changing cancer immunotherapy franchise. From August 2016 to April 2020, he served as Senior Vice President and Head of Oncology Development, with responsibility for driving product development plans from early-stage clinical development through commercialization across a portfolio of nearly 30 drug candidates. Previously, he served as Head of Global Medical Affairs overseeing 1,700 employees worldwide from September 2015 to September 2017, and he served as Head of Development at BMS for Opdivo® (nivolumab) and Yervoy® (ipilimumab), immunotherapy medications used in the treatment of cancer, from January 2011 to September 2015. Prior to that, he held roles of increasing responsibility within BMS. He holds an MD from the University of Annaba Medical School in Algeria and a Pediatrics degree from Université Rene Descartes in Paris, France. In addition, he received a Pediatric Oncology and Hematology degree and an MS in clinical and experimental pharmacology from Université Paris-Sud in France.

Opdivo® and Yervoy® are registered trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

Sarah Reed is the General Counsel at RA Capital Management. Sarah joined RA from MPM Capital where she served as the COO & General Counsel. Prior to MPM, Sarah was the General Counsel for Charles River Ventures and before that, at Palomar Medical Technologies. Sarah began her legal career with Foley, Hoag, & Eliot LLP. Sarah is the only lawyer to have received the NVCA’s Outstanding Service Award, for her leadership role in conceiving of and spearheading the NVCA Model Legal Documents. Sarah teaches a course at Harvard Law School on venture capital fund formation. Sarah holds a BA from Harvard College in East Asian Studies and a JD from Harvard Law School.