SAN DIEGO– Endeavor BioMedicines, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing medicines with the potential to deliver transformational clinical benefits to patients with life-threatening diseases, today announced the appointment of Enoch Kariuki, Pharm.D. as President and Vishaal Turakhia as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Both Dr. Kariuki and Mr. Turakhia are established life sciences executives with extensive strategic, operational, and financial experience.
“We’re preparing for an important year ahead at Endeavor BioMedicines and I’m delighted that both Enoch and Vishaal are joining the company,” said John Hood, Ph.D., Co-founder, CEO and Chairman, Endeavor BioMedicines. “Enoch and Vishaal both have an outstanding track record of corporate development, operating and financial leadership that will be invaluable as we continue to advance the clinical development of ENV-101 and ENV-501 for fibrotic lung diseases and cancer.”
Dr. Kariuki has more than 15 years of experience in healthcare strategy, life sciences investment banking, venture capital and business development. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Lengo Therapeutics (acquired by Blueprint Medicines). Previously, Dr. Kariuki served as the Chief Financial Officer of VelosBio (acquired by Merck), where he led all finance-related and investor relations functions. Prior to VelosBio, he served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, at Synthorx, where he led the company’s IPO, managed relationships with bankers, sell-side equity analysts and investors, and headed the business development process that concluded with the sale of Synthorx to Sanofi. As a result of Dr. Kariuki’s new role as President, he will transition off of Endeavor BioMedicines’ Board of Directors.
“I look forward to expanding my role with Endeavor as we continue to advance towards our clinical milestones,” said Dr. Kariuki. “I can see the distinct and very differentiated therapeutic benefits of the company’s two pipeline candidates and I’m thrilled to work alongside John and the rest of the management team.”
Mr. Turakhia has 15 years of investment banking experience. Prior to joining Endeavor BioMedicines, Vishaal was a Managing Director in the Healthcare Investment Banking Group at Piper Sandler, where he advised management teams and boards of biopharma companies on a range of financing and strategic transactions. Prior to Piper Sandler, Vishaal was Vice President in the Healthcare Investment Banking Groups at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and RBC Capital Markets, and an Equity Research Analyst in the Healthcare Group at Goldman Sachs, where he covered SMID-cap biopharma companies. During his career, Vishaal has executed more than 80 transactions, including over $50 billion in equity and debt financings and M&A.
“I am honored to join Endeavor BioMedicines’ highly credentialed leadership team as we continue building a strong financial foundation to advance our programs and create significant value for all key stakeholders,” said Mr. Turakhia. “I am particularly excited to be a part of this team’s vision to develop groundbreaking medicines that have the potential to reverse the trajectory of relentless diseases.”
