HENDERSON, Nev. — Zura Bio Limited said Tuesday that it has appointed Sandeep Kulkarni, M.D. as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 21, 2026, as the clinical-stage biotechnology company prepares for key clinical milestones in autoimmune and inflammatory disease development.
Kulkarni, who has served on Zura Bio’s Board of Directors since the company’s business combination and Nasdaq listing in March 2023, will continue to serve as a director. He succeeds Kim Davis, J.D., who has served as Interim Chief Executive Officer since October 2025 following a medical leave of absence by former CEO Robert Lisicki. Lisicki is resigning as Chief Executive Officer and as a director effective January 21, 2026. Davis will continue in her roles as Chief Operating Officer, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary.
“We are honored to have Sandeep lead Zura as we enter this important period for our company, with two potentially transformative readouts over the next 18 months,” said Amit Munshi, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “He brings a strong combination of scientific, operational, and strategic leadership. His service on our Board has provided him with a strong understanding of our programs and their transformative potential, positioning him well to lead Zura.”
Munshi also acknowledged the leadership transition, thanking Lisicki for his contributions during a formative period in the company’s growth and Davis for providing continuity during her tenure as Interim Chief Executive Officer.
Kulkarni brings more than 20 years of experience spanning biotechnology, medicine, investment, and entrepreneurship. Most recently, he served as co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tourmaline Bio, guiding the company through its development and strategic evolution prior to its acquisition by Novartis, which closed in October 2025.
“I’ve been a part of the Zura journey since Day One, and I’m thrilled to be expanding my role and leading Zura through this exciting and critical period,” Kulkarni said. “Our lead program, tibulizumab, is the first- and only-in-class bispecific antibody blocking the IL-17 and BAFF pathways, each of which has been validated in multiple autoimmune diseases. Tibulizumab is one of the most advanced bispecific antibodies in development for treating autoimmune diseases, and we have the potential to lead this paradigm shift.”
Zura Bio is developing tibulizumab for the treatment of serious and debilitating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases and expects multiple clinical data readouts over the next 18 months.
Prior to Tourmaline Bio, Kulkarni served as Managing Director at KVP Capital and held leadership roles including Chief Operating Officer at Immunovant. He has also worked at Roivant Sciences, QVT Financial, and The Boston Consulting Group. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco.
Zura Bio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel and differentiated therapies aimed at improving outcomes for patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. (Source: IANS)
