Avalo Therapuetics (AVTX) Appoints Rita Jain to its Board

Avalo Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVTX), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the treatment of immune dysregulation, today announced the appointment of Rita Jain, M.D. to its Board of Directors.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Jain to Avalo’s Board of Directors,” said Michael Heffernan, Chairman of the Board. “Rita’s extensive experience spanning clinical development, regulatory strategy, and executive leadership at multiple development-stage biopharma companies will be invaluable as we continue to advance AVTX-009, a high affinity anti-IL-1β monoclonal antibody in a Phase 2 trial for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and take a thoughtful, capital-efficient approach to our broader development strategy.”

“I am excited to join Avalo’s Board at this pivotal stage in the company’s growth, with the progressing Phase 2 LOTUS trial in HS expected to readout in the middle of next year,” said Dr. Jain. “I was drawn to this opportunity given AVTX-009's proven mechanism of action, its potential to become a best-in-disease treatment in HS, and its potential in addressing unmet needs in a number of additional large inflammatory diseases. With my experience in navigating strategic growth in immunology and inflammation across multiple indications and stages of development, I look forward to supporting the leadership team and collaborating with my fellow Board members as Avalo works to bring potential best in disease treatments to patients in need.”

Dr. Jain is a Rheumatologist who brings over two decades of leadership experience in biopharmaceutical development, clinical strategy, and regulatory affairs across multiple therapeutic areas, including immunology, inflammation, nephrology, and rare diseases. She most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at ChemoCentryx, where she advanced development and supported commercialization of Tavneos® (avacopan), a first-in-class treatment for ANCA-associated vasculitis, and supported the company’s acquisition by Amgen in 2022. Prior to that, she was Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Akebia Therapeutics. Additionally, Dr. Jain held key leadership positions at AbbVie, Pfizer, and Immunovant, overseeing global development programs, regulatory interactions, and clinical operations for multiple therapeutic candidates. She also serves on the boards of Celldex Therapeutics and AnaptysBio. Dr. Jain received her M.D. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook School of Medicine and completed her residency in internal medicine at Staten Island University Hospital, followed by a fellowship in rheumatology at North Shore University Hospital and a Clinical Research Fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.

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