NORFOLK, Va. — ReAlta Life Sciences, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on rare and acute inflammatory diseases, has appointed Ellen Lubman, MBA as its new Chief Business Officer, the company announced Monday. Lubman brings nearly 25 years of leadership experience in business development, capital formation, and corporate strategy within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
In her new role, Lubman will oversee the company’s business development initiatives, lead efforts to secure funding, and shape ReAlta’s corporate strategy as it prepares for key clinical milestones across its pipeline this year.
“Ellen is a highly respected executive with a strong track record of building partnerships, raising capital, and developing successful corporate strategies for biotech and pharmaceutical companies,” said David Marek, Chief Executive Officer of ReAlta. “We are excited to welcome Ellen at such a pivotal moment for our business with all three clinical programs reading out this year. Her deep strategic and transactional expertise strengthens our team, and she will play a key leadership role as we forge partnerships with pharmaceutical companies and investors alike.”
ReAlta’s lead therapeutic candidate, pegtarazimod, is being evaluated for use in hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)—a life-threatening condition in newborns for which no approved pharmacologic treatment currently exists—as well as acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) and acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The company’s proprietary EPICC platform underpins these clinical efforts, aiming to rebalance the inflammatory response in patients with severe unmet medical needs.
“I am thrilled to join ReAlta and build on the company’s accomplishments in developing the EPICC platform and its lead asset pegtarazimod,” Lubman said. “It is a privilege to contribute to the advancement of this differentiated approach to support the delivery of innovative therapies treating neuroinflammation in newborns with HIE and other serious conditions.”
Lubman previously served as Chief Business Officer at Werewolf Therapeutics, where she helped guide the company through multiple funding rounds, including its initial public offering. She also held leadership roles at Impel Pharmaceuticals, Allergan, Kadmon Pharmaceuticals, and Bristol Myers Squibb, among others. She currently serves on the boards of Reunion Neuroscience and Cytovation ASA and advises the venture firm Two Bear Capital.
Lubman holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Rutgers College.
Her appointment comes as ReAlta anticipates major clinical updates this year, positioning the company to potentially advance breakthrough therapies for a range of serious inflammatory diseases.
