About Us

RyCarma is a clinical-stage biotech company developing first-in-class small molecule therapeutics for cardiovascular and skeletal muscle diseases

Leadership Team Board of Directors Investors Open Positions

Our drug discovery platform is built from deep expertise on the target of our therapies—ryanodine receptors (RyRs), channels that regulate the intracellular flow of calcium ions in nearly all cell types. Foundational research from the lab of our founder, Dr. Andrew Marks, has not only revealed how RyR dysfunction contributes to heart, muscle and brain disorders but also demonstrated that a new class of small molecule drugs, Rycals®, has the potential to repair these receptors and modify disease progression. RyCarma has an exclusive, worldwide license from Columbia University for its RyR technology based on Dr. Marks’ research.

RyCarma was founded in 2004 as ARMGO Pharma and, through a nearly 15-year collaboration with a large pharmaceutical company, advanced an earlier Rycal® molecule into multiple Phase 2 studies in heart failure patients. These earlier studies provided the first evidence of the therapeutic potential of Rycals® in treating heart failure. ARM210, our next generation Rycal®, improves upon several pharmacologic properties and the learnings from these earlier clinical studies have informed our current programs in heart failure and ryanodine receptor 1-related myopathies (RYR1-RM).

Our Team

RyCarma leverages over 20 years of experience and expertise in RyR biology, including pioneering work by our founder Dr. Andrew Marks, a globally recognized leader in RyRs who cloned the receptor and described its structure at atomic resolution. Our experienced team is committed to translating these advancements into innovative treatments for patients.

Leadership

Adam Rosenberg Read Bio

Adam Rosenberg

Chief Executive Officer

Adam Rosenberg

Chief Executive Officer

Adam Rosenberg joined RyCarma Therapeutics in 2024 as Chief Executive Officer, bringing over 20 years of industry experience in founding and building innovative biotech companies. Most recently, Adam served as CEO and director of Aliada Therapeutics (acquired by Abbvie), Athenen Therapeutics (merged with Eliem/Climb Bio) and Sionna Therapeutics. Previously, he was CEO and director of Rodin Therapeutics (acquired by Alkermes), Link Medicine and Teleos Therapeutics.

Adam serves as Chair and independent director on the Boards of multiple biotech companies, both public and private.  He holds a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Whittier College.

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Jonathan Alspaugh

President & Chief Strategy Officer

Jonathan Alspaugh

President & Chief Strategy Officer

Jonathan Alspaugh joined RyCarma Therapeutics in 2024 as President and Chief Strategy Officer after spending nearly 15 years guiding biotech and biopharma companies on financial and corporate development initiatives. Most recently, he served as President and Chief Financial Officer of Aeglea BioTherapeutics where he led the merger with Spyre Therapeutics. Before Aeglea, Jonathan served as Managing Director at Evercore, a global investment bank, where he supported the growth of biotech clients through mergers and acquisitions alongside numerous equity financings. Prior to Evercore, Jonathan was a member of Barclays Capital’s global healthcare investment banking team.

Jonathan holds an MS from the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management, and a BSE and an MSE in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences from the University of Michigan.

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Yael Webb, PhD, JD

Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel

Yael Webb, PhD, JD

Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel

Yael Webb, PhD, JD,  joined RyCarma Therapeutics in 2006 through to 2020, during which time she held the role of Senior Vice President of Intellectual Property. In 2022, Yael rejoined RyCarma as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. Yael’s strong background in organic and medicinal chemistry, alongside over 20 years of experience in patent prosecution and patent portfolio management grants her a deep understanding of the entire lifecycle of drug development and the legal processes that accompany it.

Prior to her extensive career at RyCarma, Yael held a role at ATON Pharma, where she was part of the team that led to the discovery and development of the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor SAHA (Vorinostat), now marketed for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Yael has also held the position of Associate Patent Attorney at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.

Yael received her BSc in Chemistry from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, and her PhD in Chemistry from Columbia University. She conducted her postdoctoral training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Yael also holds a JD from Fordham University School of Law. Yael is admitted to the State Bar of New York and the US Patent and Trademark Office. She is also a registered Israeli Patent Attorney.

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Kathi Larson

Chief Financial Officer

Kathi Larson

Chief Financial Officer

Kathi Larson joined RyCarma Therapeutics in May 2006, where she has since held the role of Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Board, bringing with her over 25 years of experience within the financial management sector. Kat’s responsibilities include directing the Company’s financial accounting, reporting, and treasury functions.

Prior to her career at RyCarma, Kat served as controller for both Aton Pharma (acquired by Merck, 2004) and Physicians’ Online (acquired by Mediconsult.com, 1999). Throughout her career, Kat has established herself as a leading name in the sector with a strong track record of providing senior financial leadership advice with a focus on strategic direction and corporate growth. Alongside this, she has assisted in the completion of numerous financings and acquisitions.

Kat holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (BBA) from Marshall University.

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Sandro Belvedere, PhD

Senior Vice President, Research

Sandro Belvedere, PhD

Senior Vice President, Research

Sandro Belvedere, PhD, re-joined RyCarma Therapeutics in 2024 as Senior Vice President of Research. Sandro had previously been an integral part of RyCarma from 2006 to 2019, contributing to the RyR drug discovery programs in roles from Director of Chemistry to Vice President of Chemistry and Biology.

Sandro was trained as an organic chemist and has over twenty years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry with a successful track record of progressing molecules into the clinic in various therapeutic areas including oncology, CNS, and cardiovascular disease. Previously, Sandro has held positions at GSK, Forkhead Bio, Avicenna Biosciences, and Aton Pharma (acquired by Merck), where he contributed to the discovery of HDAC inhibitors and the development of the marketed drug Vorinostat.

Sandro received a Laurea (MS) in Chemistry from the University of Rome La Sapienza, a MS from the University of Rochester and a PhD in Chemistry from Columbia University. He is coauthor of numerous publications and an inventor on several patents and patent applications.

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Sanjay Jalota

Senior Vice President, Regulatory

Sanjay Jalota

Senior Vice President, Regulatory

Sanjay Jalota joined RyCarma Therapeutics in 2024 as Senior Vice President of Regulatory. An experienced regulatory strategist, he has a 30-year track record of steering both early- and late-phase compounds through their complete development lifecycle, from preclinical stages to post-marketing.

Sanjay previously served as Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs at Aeglea BioTherapeutics where he led comprehensive global regulatory strategies for Aeglea’s early-phase compounds as well as a BLA submission for LOARGYS® (pegzilarginase) for the treatment of hyperargininemia. Prior to Aeglea, Sanjay worked at Janssen Pharmaceuticals as the US Regulatory Affairs Head for Actelion/Pulmonary Hypertension Therapeutic Area. He has also led global regulatory strategy for key marketed and investigational products in CNS, Cardiovascular, and Respiratory therapeutic areas at Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Hoechst Marion Roussel Ltd.

Sanjay holds a BPharm from the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology.

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Rachael Russell

Vice President, Clinical Operations

Rachael Russell

Vice President, Clinical Operations

Rachael Russell joined RyCarma Therapeutics in April 2022 where she assumed the role of Vice President of Clinical Operations, bringing with her more than 23 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical industry across clinical operations and medical affairs.

Prior to her role at RyCarma, Rachael spent much of her career at GSK. During her 21 years at the Company, Rachael held several roles, the most recent being Director of Clinical Development, where she led a group that delivered clinical programs, both early and late phase, across GSK’s immuno-inflammation portfolio. Rachael also held several global roles, leading assets and multi-disciplinary teams through late phase clinical development projects, predominantly focused on cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory and rare diseases, as well as several key change initiatives. Previous to GSK, Rachael began her career working for AstraZeneca.

Rachael holds a BSc in Biochemistry from Royal Holloway, University of London.

MurrayStewart Read Bio

Murray Stewart, DM, FRCP

Senior Medical Advisor

Murray Stewart, DM, FRCP

Senior Medical Advisor

Murray Stewart, DM, FRCP, has 25 years of drug development experience at small and large companies. He has been a Senior Medical Advisor to RyCarma since 2024. Previously, Dr. Stewart was Chief Medical Officer at Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, and before that he was Executive Vice President, Head of R&D, at Novelion Therapeutics Inc. Dr. Stewart held a variety of positions at GlaxoSmithKline from 2000 to 2017, including Chief Medical Officer and Therapy Area Head for Cardiovascular and Metabolic. Before joining the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Stewart worked as a diabetes consultant and senior lecturer and was Consultant Physician/Honorary Senior Lecturer and Head of Clinical Services at the Diabetes Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK. His research was in lipid metabolism in type-2 diabetes, and he completed his medical training at Southampton Medical School in the UK and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.

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Yigal Pinto, MD, PhD

Medical Advisor, Cardiology

Yigal Pinto, MD, PhD

Medical Advisor, Cardiology

Yigal M. Pinto, MD, PhD, joined RyCarma Therapeutics in early 2022 as Medical Director. Yigal brings with him over 20 years of medical research experience in cardiology with a focus on rare cardiomyopathies and RNA therapeutics to address cardiac disorders.

Yigal currently holds several positions alongside his role at RyCarma. He is a registered Clinical Cardiologist as well as the Head of the Experimental Cardiology Department at Amsterdam University Medical Centre. In addition, Yigal is a founder and CMO of Phlox Therapeutics and the CMO of Oxitope Therapeutics. He served as CSO of ACS Biomarker BV and works as an advisor to the life science investment fund, Forbion.

Yigal’s research career encompasses many high profile positions, including: member of the Young Academy of the Royal Dutch Academy of Science (2004-2009), Professor at the University of Maastricht (2005-2008), Investigator at the Netherlands Heart Foundation (2005-2010), Member of the Council on Biomedical Science of the Royal Dutch Academy of Science (2006-2010), Professor at the University of Amsterdam (since 2008), and member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Singapore Flagship Program.

Yigal holds an MD and a PhD in molecular genetics from Groningen University and received scientific training at Harvard University and the Free University of Berlin. Following his PhD, he completed his training as a Board-Certified Cardiologist at the University Medical Center, Groningen.  He is the author of 275 research papers, 11 patents and contributed to a change in the official guidelines on the treatment of rare cardiomyopathies.

Board of Directors

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John Ford, PhD

Chairman

John Ford, PhD

Chairman

John Ford, PhD, joined RyCarma Therapeutics as Chair in January 2022. During his career spanning over 20 years, John has helped to build many innovative biotech companies, from foundation through to commercialization.

Alongside his role at RyCarma, John is currently CEO at Enterprise Therapeutics, where he supports the Company in its development of mutant agnostic mucokinetic drug approaches for Cystic Fibrosis and other respiratory diseases. John is also an Independent Director at Compliment Therapeutics, a company that is currently developing a portfolio of treatments for complement-related diseases such as age-related macular degeneration.

Across his career, John has co-founded several companies, including Xention (CSO), Ario Pharma (CEO) and Metrion Biosciences (co-owner). During his time at Xention, John was responsible for the development of the Kv1.5 ion-channel atrial fibrillatory project, which was partnered to Servier (up to €120m). He was also part of the executive team at Dezima as Project Director and COO, where he directed the development project of the TA-8995 drug for dyslipidaemia and sold the Company to Amgen (estimated deal size US$1.55bn + royalties). In 2020, John sold the TMEM16A portfolio, developed by his company, Enterprise Therapeutics, to Roche/Genentech for an estimated US$100m + undisclosed payment milestones.

John holds a first-class degree in Biotechnology, as well as a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Leeds.

Adam Rosenberg Read Bio

Adam Rosenberg

Chief Executive Officer

Adam Rosenberg

Chief Executive Officer

Adam Rosenberg joined RyCarma Therapeutics in 2024 as Chief Executive Officer, bringing over 20 years of industry experience in founding and building innovative biotech companies. Most recently, Adam served as CEO and director of Aliada Therapeutics (acquired by Abbvie), Athenen Therapeutics (merged with Eliem/Climb Bio) and Sionna Therapeutics. Previously, he was CEO and director of Rodin Therapeutics (acquired by Alkermes), Link Medicine and Teleos Therapeutics.

Adam serves as Chair and independent director on the Boards of multiple biotech companies, both public and private.  He holds a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Whittier College.

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Andrew Marks, MD

Founder

Andrew Marks, MD

Founder

Andrew R. Marks, MD, is the founding scientist of RyCarma Therapeutics, based on his ground-breaking work at Columbia University.

Andrew is well known for his research on coronary heart disease, having led development of novel drug-eluting stents, the first of which gained FDA approval in 2003. In addition, Andrew also designed a new class of drug, called Rycals®, that form the basis of RyCarma’s goal to treat orphan skeletal muscle and cardiac diseases.

Across his career, Andrew has gained recognition in the form of a host of awards, including the ASCI Stanley J. Korsmeyer Award (2010), the Pasarow Foundation Award for Cardiovascular Research (2011), the Ellison Medical Foundation Senior Scholar in Aging Award (2011), Glorney-Raisbeck Award from NY Academy of Medicine (2016), Columbia University Dean’s Award for Excellence in promoting Diversity (2017), the Naranjan Dhalla Award for Innovative Investigators in Cardiovascular Sciences, International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences (2018) and Doctor of Science, Honoris causa, Amherst College (2009), and from l’Université de Montpellier (2016). He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences (2005), National Academy of Medicine (2004), and American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2005). In 2002 he founded the Summer Program for Undergraduate Rising Stars (SPURS) at Columbia University, providing mentored research training for under-represented and economically disadvantaged students primarily from the New York City public colleges and universities.

Andrew holds an undergraduate degree from Amherst College (with honors in both Biology and English), and an MD from Harvard Medical School. He received training in internal medicine and cardiology at the Massachusetts General Hospital and was a research fellow in molecular genetics at Harvard Medical School. Andrew was also the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Clinical Investigation, and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Novartis for ten years, as well as serving on the advisory boards of the Gladstone Foundation (UCSF) and the Harrington Discovery Institute (Case-Western Reserve University). Andrew is Chair and Professor of the Physiology and Cellular Biophysics Department at Columbia University. Across his extensive career in research, he has published over 200 articles, contributing new understandings of fundamental mechanisms that control muscle contraction, heart function, lymphocyte activation, and cognitive function as well as discovering novel causes of human diseases including heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders.

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Peter Neubeck, MD

Investor Director

Peter Neubeck, MD

Investor Director

Peter Neubeck, MD, joined RyCarma Therapeutics in December 2021 as a member of the board. Peter has headed up the investment business of Kurma Partners since 2019, where he manages healthcare and biotechnology investment opportunities, across Europe, from the Company’s Munich office.

Peter began his business career at Mckinsey & Company, Zurich, before moving to Novartis. Whilst at Novartis, Peter oversaw Global Disease Area Strategy before taking on responsibilities as a Global Project Leader for a high-profile late-stage development project. Peter entered the venture capital market in 2008 when he joined TVM capital, Munich. In this role he gained experience as an investment manager, and also in building, running, and successfully exiting several portfolio companies.

Peter holds an MD from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich as well as Harvard Medical School, with postgraduate training at Großhadern University Clinic, The Cleveland Clinic and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. In addition, Peter gained an MBA from the Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD), France.

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Geert-Jan Mulder, MD

Investor Director

Geert-Jan Mulder, MD

Investor Director

Geert-Jan Mulder, MD, co-founded Forbion in 2006 and serves as a Managing Partner for the fund and a director on the board of RyCarma Therapeutics. Geert-Jan is an experienced life sciences investor who has led successful investments and served on the boards of several portfolio companies including Sanifit (sold to Vifor in 2021), KaNDy Therapeutics (sold to Bayer in 2020), Enterprise Therapeutics (sold to Roche in 2020), Promedior (sold to Roche in 2020), Exsosome (sold to Bio-Techne in 2018), bluebirdbio (IPO on Nasdaq 2013: BLUE), Acorda (IPO on Nasdaq 2006: ACOR), PanGenetics (sold to Abbott in 2009) and Transave (reverse-merged with Insmed, listed on Nasdaq in 2010: INSM).

Alongside his work on the boards of Forbion companies, Geert-Jan works closely with various portfolio company management teams, assisting with clinical development strategies and regulatory matters such as IND/NDA filings, Special Protocol Approval (SPA), and US/EU Orphan designations for several products. In this capacity, Geert-Jan has authored and co-authored several scientific publications from Forbion and Forbion-portfolio companies.

Before joining the venture industry in 2001, Geert-Jan spent two years as a resident in obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) at the University Medical Center of Utecht. He has also spent several years in the pharmaceutical industry in clinical development and global media marketing for Searle (now Pfizer) and Byk Gulden (now Takeda).

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Tomer Kariv, JD

Investor Director

Tomer Kariv, JD

Investor Director

Tomer is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pontifax. He serves as an active board member of many of the funds’ portfolio companies, assuming a special responsibility for strategic planning. Among other positions, Tomer serves as the Chairman at Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, board member in Cathworks, Keros Therapeutics, Ocon Healthcare, RyCarma Therapeutics and V-Wave. During the 10 years prior to establishing Pontifax, he held senior management positions at top Israeli financial institutions, playing a key role in investing in, nurturing and managing technology-driven startups.

Tomer holds a BA in Economics from Harvard University and a JD from Harvard Law School.

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Dmitrij Hristodorov, PhD

Investor Director

Dmitrij Hristodorov, PhD

Investor Director

Dmitrij Hristodorov, PhD, joined Forbion in March 2020 and became Partner in 2021. Dmitrij is a core member of the investment team, working on new investments across funds and therapeutic areas. In addition to his role as board member at RyCarma Therapeutics, he currently serves on the board for Oxular and Complement Therapeutics, and as a Board Observer for VectorY.

Prior to joining Forbion, Dmitrij held positions in R&D, business development and licensing for cardiovascular diseases and ophthalmology at Bayer AG where he was responsible for overseeing licensing deals and managing partnership strategy. He previously also served as a Board Observer and R&D committee member of Gyroscope Therapeutics that was acquired for up to $1.5B by Novartis in December 2021.

Dmitrij holds a Master’s degree in Biotechnology and a PhD in Biotechnology and Immunology from RWTH Aachen University.

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Andrew Schiff, MD

Board Observer

Andrew Schiff, MD

Board Observer

Andrew Schiff, MD, joined Aisling Capital in 2000 and currently serves as one of its Managing Partners. Currently he holds a position as an Observer on the board of RyCarma Therapeutics next to director roles at Aclaris Therapeutics, and Monte Rosa Therapeutics.

Andrew has an extensive track record on company boards in the pharmaceutical space. His prior board service includes  Agile Therapeutics, Barrier Therapeutics (acquired by Stiefel Laboratories), Bioenvision (acquired by Genzyme), CardioKine (acquired by Cornerstone), Myogen (acquired by Gilead Sciences), PowerVision (acquired by Alcon), Sirion Therapeutics (licenses acquired by Alcon), ZELTIQ Aesthetics (acquired by Allergan), and other companies.

Prior to joining Aisling, Andrew practiced internal medicine at the New York Presbyterian Hospital, where he still maintains his position as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine.

Andrew received his MD from Cornell University Medical College, as well as an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BS with honors in Neuroscience from Brown University.

Investors

Open Positions

Join us on the forefront of science and medicine as we develop a new class of drugs that directly targets and strengthens muscle cells. Our global team fosters a vibrant culture of collaboration and innovation, and is dedicated to developing therapeutics for people with life-threatening cardiovascular and skeletal muscle diseases.

About the position:

RyCarma Therapeutics is looking for a full-time patent agent to join our team. The patent agent will play a pivotal role in developing and managing RyCarma’s growing patent portfolio and will provide assistance to the general counsel in all matters relating to intellectual property. This position offers the opportunity to work closely with the research and development teams to help identify, advance and protect innovations.

Qualifications:
  • Qualified candidates will have at least three (3) years of patent preparation and prosecution experience, specifically within the field of organic or medicinal chemistry, pharmacology or biochemistry.
  • Experience with preparing and prosecuting small molecule patent applications is required. Foreign prosecution experience is strongly preferred.
  • Law firm experience in a firm focusing on technology and life sciences companies is a plus.
  • Advanced degree (PhD preferred) in chemistry, biochemistry or related discipline.
  • Experience in due diligence and landscape analysis is strongly preferred.
  • Registration to practice before the USPTO is required.
Responsibilities:
  • Your responsibilities will include patent drafting and prosecution, competitive surveillance, patent portfolio oversight and maintenance, evaluating new scientific advances and invention disclosures.
  • Conduct patent searches, assist with patentability and freedom to operate analysis.
  • Work closely with outside counsel to handle all deadlines and filings related to the company’s proprietary and licensed IP portfolio.
  • Provide assistance to the general counsel in all matters related to IP.

This is a fully remote position, candidates from across the United States are welcome to apply. Must be flexible to participate in virtual meetings with collaborators in Europe.

RyCarma provides a full benefit package for full time employees, including comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans, 401K, flexible spending accounts, supplemental life insurance, supplemental AD&D insurance, among others.

About RyCarma Therapeutics

RyCarma is a privately owned, venture-backed, clinical stage biotech company developing first-in-class small-molecule therapeutics for cardiovascular and skeletal muscle disease. We hold an exclusive, worldwide license from Columbia University for its RyR technology and know-how.

RyCarma’s compounds, called Rycals®, are allosteric modulators that target leaky ryanodine receptor calcium channels (RyRs) that are critical for muscle contraction and restore the channel to normal function. The company is focused on developing its lead drug candidate for heart failure and ryanodine receptor 1-related myopathies (RYR1-RM) and anticipates starting phase 2 trials in these indications in 2025.

Apply for position

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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