Overview
Claris Bio is dedicated to transforming care for patients with rare and severe corneal diseases where no approved pharmaceutical interventions exist. Our mission of delivering meaningful, durable outcomes for patients facing progressive vision loss and limited treatment options underscores all we do.
Grounded in pioneering corneal research, we are committed to advancing innovative, biologically-driven therapies that have the potential to preserve and restore vision.
Established LEADERSHIP
Our leadership team brings deep expertise across ophthalmology, biologics development, and clinical strategy. United by a shared commitment to patients with rare corneal diseases, the team is focused on advancing Claris’ lead program through late-stage development and positioning the company for long-term impact.
Clarke Atwell, MIB
Founding CEO and Board Member
Clarke has had the great fortune to work with a diverse and amazing group of people throughout his career. Clarke is a seasoned international biopharmaceutical Chief Executive with experience in company foundation and the licensing of products and technologies. He has a proven ability to build, lead and rapidly integrate diverse organizations as well as extensive experience in the development of products from concept through to Phase III and submission, across multiple disease areas. Clarke has a history of successfully launching novel therapies, managing mature products and maximizing profitability of product portfolios.
Susan Orr, OD
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Orr has broad experience and expertise in eye care, driven largely by intellectual curiosity and a desire to help patients. Following 10 years private practice in Canada, Dr. Orr joined Alcon in roles of increasing responsibility across international clinical development, pharmacology, business development and licensing, pipeline/product strategy, and marketing. Moving to Janssen, Dr. Orr developed the therapeutic strategy for Janssen’s nascent retina team. Moving from large pharma to start-up, Dr. Orr took on the role of CMO at Notal Vision, an OCT diagnostic company, ultimately advancing to CEO.
Dr. Orr joined Clarke Atwell at Claris Biotherapeutics in 2020, enticed by the robust preclinical data and wealth of knowledge surrounding the molecular pathway of their lead dHGF program. Dr. Orr is also a member of the Retinal Global Board of Directors.
Henry Rath, MBA
Chief Business Officer
Henry has been a business development professional in the biotech industry for over 25 years in both large and small companies, completing many significant licensing and acquisition transactions. In addition to business development, Henry’s experience spans corporate finance, strategy, commercial planning, and portfolio management. Henry began his career with roles in the banking and consulting industries focusing on biotechnology. Henry earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard College and his M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Tomi Luan, OD, PhD
Vice President, Clinical Development
Dr. Luan brings substantial experience in clinical development, ophthalmology, and basic science experience to Claris. Dr. Luan’s dedication to patient care has driven her record of contributions to both large and small molecule programs and medical device products. With over 20 years spanning start-ups and industry anchors, Dr. Luan has held positions at Johnson & Johnson, Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, and Glaukos. Dr. Luan is uniquely qualified to oversee the direction and execution of Claris’ lead clinical stage asset, CSB-001.
Piotr Bryla, PhD
Vice President, CMC
Dr. Bryla has over 30 years of CMC and CMC regulatory experience in pharmaceuticals, biologics, and devices across all phases of drug product development. This includes the last 15 years spent in the ophthalmology space, where he led CMC to successful approval of Dexycu® for the treatment of postoperative inflammation. He's also the author of more than 20 publications in scientific literature, as well as numerous internal reports, posters and presentations.
Our Board of Directors
Marc de Garidel, MIM, AMP
Chairman of the Board CEO, ABIVAX
Mr. de Garidel is a highly experienced biopharmaceutical senior executive who has served as CEO for several biopharmaceutical companies at different stages of development for the last 13 years, including two significant billion dollar exits with CinCor Pharma and Corvidia Therapeutics in the last 3 years. He is currently Chairman of Ipsen Group, a public European pharmaceutical company developing and marketing products in several therapeutic areas. Before becoming a full-time Chairman of Ipsen, he was Chairman and CEO of Ipsen from 2010 to 2016. Earlier in his career, Mr. de Garidel played a key role in the development of Amgen in Europe as regional Vice President. Mr. de Garidel serves on the board of a few biotech companies, including Ipsen, CinCor Pharma (until its sale to AstraZeneca), and Claris Bio.
Mr. de Garidel earned a Master’s in International Management at Thunderbird School of Global Management and attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Clarke Atwell, MIB
Founding CEO and Board Member
Clarke has had the great fortune to work with a diverse and amazing group of people throughout his career. Clarke is a seasoned international biopharmaceutical Chief Executive with experience in company foundation and the licensing of products and technologies. He has a proven ability to build, lead and rapidly integrate diverse organizations as well as extensive experience in the development of products from concept through to Phase III and submission, across multiple disease areas. Clarke has a history of successfully launching novel therapies, managing mature products and maximizing profitability of product portfolios.
Reza Dana, MD, MSc, MPH, FARVO
CO-FOUNDER AND BOARD MEMBER
Dr. Dana is Senior Scientist and the Claes Dohlman Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Cornea Service at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Vice Chairman of Harvard Ophthalmology for Academic Programs, Director of the Laboratory of Ocular Immunology, Transplantation and Regeneration, member of the Harvard Medical School graduate program in Immunology, and Director of the Harvard-Vision Clinical Scientist Development Program. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University, he has subspecialty training in both corneal diseases and ocular immunology. He is a clinician-scientist whose contributions to the fields of transplantation, regenerative medicine, angiogenesis, and ocular surface disease have led to 500+ publications, which have been cited more than 46,000 times. He is the recipient of numerous top international honors in the field of vision science and has received Harvard Medical School’s top mentoring award. Apart from over 100 clinical trainees, he has trained more than 150 scientists from 36 countries in his laboratory to date; many are professors, senior scientists, division/department chiefs and leaders in industry. Dr. Dana has been the scientific co-founder of several biotech firms.
Kenneth Harrison, PhD
SENIOR PARTNER AT NOVO VENTURES
Dr. Harrison serves as a member of the Claris board of directors and is a partner with Novo Ventures (US) Inc. in San Francisco, California. Dr. Harrison currently also serves on the boards of Aristea Therapeutics, Edgewise Therapeutics (NASDAQ:EWTX), Glycomine, Hummingbird Bioscience, Nuvig Therapeutics, and Rondo Thrapeutics. He was previously on the board or was involved with investments in Bolt Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ:BOLT), Reneo Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:RPHM), Mirum Pharma (NASDAQ: MIRM), Allievex, and Vertuis Bio (acquired). Prior to joining Novo Ventures, Dr. Harrison worked in commercial planning and strategy at Genentech, where he was a member of the HER2 franchise and Ophthalmology franchise teams. Dr. Harrison was a life sciences management consultant at L.E.K. Consulting and a seed-stage investor at Mission Bay Capital, where he helped create programs to launch and build life sciences companies in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Dr. Harrison and earned a PhD in Pharmacology from Yale University and studied cellular lipid storage and metabolism as an A.P. Giannini Foundation Fellow at the J. David Gladstone Institutes.
Maha Radhakrishnan, MD
Executive Partner, Private Equity at Sofinnova Investments
Maha Radhakrishnan, M.D. is currently Executive Partner at Sofinnova Investments and in her most recent role was Consultant to the CEO at Dyne Therapeutics helping with the overarching strategy and direction to the company R&D and Commercialization efforts. Prior to that she was the Chief Medical Officer at Biogen, responsible for the Worldwide Medical function since rejoining Biogen in January 2020.
Previously, from 2016-2019, Dr. Radhakrishnan was Senior Vice President and Global Head of Medical, Primary Care Business Unit at Sanofi, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health. At Sanofi, she led the medical strategy and operations for the diabetes and cardiovascular products and development programs. Prior to this, she held several key leadership roles at Bioverativ Inc. from 2016-2018, Biogen for the first time from 2013-2016, Bristol Myers Squibb from 2009-2013, United Health Group from 2006-2008, and Cephalon from 2005-2006.
Dr. Radhakrishnan has extensive experience in overseeing the medical strategy development, external scientific engagement strategy with academic institutions, top and emerging key opinion leaders, patient advocacy groups, media, investors, payers, policy makers, government, and regulators. She has overseen the launch preparations and execution of several blockbuster launches including Abilify, Orencia, Tecfidera, Praluent, Nusinersen, Qalsody, Leqembi, Skyclarys and Clinical Development including life cycle management of several critical programs in the Hemophilia, Immunology, Rare Disease, Cardiovascular and CNS Therapeutic areas.
She received her M.D. in internal medicine with honors from the People’s Friendship University in Moscow, Russia in 1995, as well as a master's degree in Russian language. She is also a certified Russian language instructor and interpreter.
Matthew Hobson, PhD
Principal, Catalio Capital Management
Matthew Hobson, PhD is a Principal at Catalio Capital Management. Matthew joined Catalio at its founding in 2020 and primarily covers investments in therapeutics and diagnostics for their venture and private credit strategies. He currently represents Catalio as a board observer of multiple companies including Anagenex, Iambic Therapeutics, Octant, and Pink Dx. Prior to joining Catalio, Matthew was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine where he also earned a PhD in biophysics and biophysical chemistry, studying proteins involved in DNA replication and repair. Matthew holds a B.S. in chemistry and physics from Emory University.
Michael Dybbs, PhD
Partner, Samsara Biocapital
Dr. Dybbs is currently a partner at Samsara BioCapital, where he has worked since March 2017. Prior to joining Samsara, Dr. Dybbs was a partner at New Leaf Venture Partners, where he worked from May 2009 until September 2016. Before joining New Leaf Venture Partners, L.L.C., Dr. Dybbs was a principal at the Boston Consulting Group. Dr. Dybbs currently serves on the boards of directors of Nkarta and several private companies. Dr. Dybbs previously served on the boards of directors of Versartis, Inc. and Dimension Therapeutics, Inc. Dr. Dybbs received an A.B. in biochemical sciences from Harvard College and a Ph.D. in molecular biology from University of California, Berkeley, where he was awarded a Howard Hughes Medical Institute fellowship.