Boston, MA– RyCarma Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in small molecule therapeutics for cardiovascular and skeletal muscle diseases, has announced the appointment of Dr. Elizabeth Tarka as its Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr. Tarka will oversee the clinical development of surlorian (ARM210), a promising drug candidate advancing into Phase 2 trials for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and ryanodine receptor 1-related myopathies (RYR1-RM).
RyCarma’s CEO, Adam Rosenberg, highlighted Dr. Tarka’s extensive experience in clinical strategy, emphasizing her ability to lead late-stage clinical trials. “Her leadership will accelerate our mission to translate the novel mechanism of Rycals® into innovative therapeutics for heart failure and RYR1-RM patients,” Rosenberg stated.
With over two decades in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, Dr. Tarka brings a wealth of experience to RyCarma. She previously served as CMO at XyloCor Therapeutics, where she contributed to the development of gene therapies for cardiovascular diseases, and at Idera Pharmaceuticals, working on rare disease and immuno-oncology treatments. Earlier in her career, she played a key role at Janssen Pharmaceuticals as the Clinical Program Lead for Xarelto® (rivaroxaban) and spent more than ten years at GlaxoSmithKline overseeing multiple cardiovascular programs, including a global Phase 3 cardiovascular outcomes study.
Expressing enthusiasm for her new role, Dr. Tarka stated, “I have dedicated my career to the development of transformational medicines that improve the lives of patients, and I look forward to continuing this mission at RyCarma. Surlorian has the unique potential to address a driver of disease progression within cardiac muscle while also improving skeletal muscle weakness and fatigue, symptoms not targeted by existing treatments.”
Dr. Tarka earned her medical degree and a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her residency and fellowship training at the same institution, where she also served on the faculty. She remains an Adjunct Faculty Associate Professor at the university and has been board-certified in cardiology and internal medicine. Her research has been published in multiple peer-reviewed journals.
With Dr. Tarka at the helm of its clinical development, RyCarma Therapeutics aims to push forward its innovative treatments, offering new hope for patients with heart failure and muscle-related diseases.
