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.
Occam Global is an international life science executive search and leadership advisory firm dedicated to building management teams for innovative companies in the biotech, techbio, life sciences, and venture capital sectors. Our firm’s unique strength lies in our seamless access to elite talent, proven expertise in aligning exceptional business and scientific leaders with optimal opportunities, and a steadfast dedication to creating meaningful industry impact, guided by elevated ethics and enlightened aggression. Trusted by entrepreneurs, investors, and corporations worldwide, Occam Global is recognized as the premier partner for executive search and recruitment in the life sciences. Our success is rooted in establishing trust, cultivating and valuing relationships, and committing to serve as forthright and good-humored partners in realizing extraordinary ambitions.