SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Velia Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and characterization of novel, disease relevant and druggable microproteins, today announced that Alan Saghatelian, PhD, has been named chief technology officer. A scientific co-founder of Velia Therapeutics, Dr. Saghatelian will oversee critical development activities to optimize the company’s proprietary microprotein-based platform and advance its robust pipeline of novel therapeutics.
“I am thrilled that Dr. Saghatelian, a renowned expert in human biology and co-founder of Velia, will assume the role of chief technology officer where his unmatched depth of knowledge of microproteins, experience applying new strategies to make important discoveries that accelerate the development of new medicines and extensive research background will guide the continued development of the world’s most rigorously annotated library of highly desirable microproteins,” said John McHutchison, AO, MD, president and chief executive officer at Velia Therapeutics. “Dr. Saghatelian will also maintain his current position at the Salk Institute in parallel with this new role, which we believe will benefit both organizations and our individual missions. He will be a valuable member of the Velia leadership team and play a critical role in accelerating our efforts to identify novel targets and harness the therapeutic potential of microproteins to treat a wide variety of diseases.”
Dr. Saghatelian has more than 25 years of research experience at leading academic institutions, including The Salk Institute for Biological Studies and, previously, Harvard University and The Scripps Research Institute. He is one of the pioneers of the study of microproteins and their fundamental connections to disease pathology, developing first-of-its-kind innovative platforms and identifying thousands of new human genes alongside some of the world’s top researchers. Currently, he is a professor at the Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology and the Dr. Frederik Paulsen Chair at The Salk Institute for Biological Sciences. In his career, Dr. Saghatelian has received numerous academic awards and honors, submitted various patent applications, and authored more than 150 publications across high impact peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Saghatelian received a PhD in chemistry from The Scripps Research Institute and a BS in chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles.
“I am incredibly proud of the progress that Velia has made in applying its powerful discovery platform to develop a microprotein-based pipeline of groundbreaking therapeutics, and I look forward to working with the experienced leadership team to further advance these programs,” said Dr. Saghatelian. “Drawing from my scientific research background and deep knowledge of Velia’s proprietary technology as a company co-founder, in this new role I am excited to support and enhance Velia’s discovery and development efforts ultimately with the aim to improve patient lives.”
“When we first developed a strong interest in the microprotein field, Dr. Saghatelian was among the first calls we made to start this company,” said Leon Chen, chairman of the board at Velia Therapeutics and partner at The Column Group. “Welcoming him as chief technology officer is a full-circle moment, especially at a critical time for Velia as we continue to uncover the therapeutic potential of microproteins to fulfill significant unmet needs across therapeutic areas. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with him in his new role at Velia.”
About Velia Therapeutics
Velia Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of a new generation of protein-based therapeutics that address the underlying causes of difficult-to-treat diseases. The company is the scientific leader in identifying disease-relevant microproteins hidden in the dark matter of the human proteome. Harnessing its proprietary platform technology and unique expertise in microprotein discovery, Velia is focused on uncovering new drug targets and developing first-in-class therapies for renal, inflammatory and immunologic disorders and other diseases. The company’s innovative technology for identifying novel protein coding sequences in the proteome is based upon the seminal work of its world-renowned scientific founders, Eric Olson, PhD, Alan Saghatelian, PhD, Richard Scheller, PhD, and Jonathan Weissman, PhD; all recognized leaders in protein biology. Led by an experienced management team and funded by top-tier venture groups, the company is poised to break new ground in protein-based therapeutics to transform medical care and improve patients’ lives. More information about Velia Therapeutics is available at www.veliatx.com and on LinkedIn.
