17 December 2018 - - US-based biopharmaceutical company Tvardi Therapeutics Inc has appointed Imran Alibhai, Ph.D. as chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors, effective immediately, the company said.

Prior to joining Tvardi, Dr. Alibhai was an SVP and managing director at DNAtrix, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing oncolytic viruses for cancer.

During his tenure, DNAtrix raised multiple rounds of financing, entered into and enrolled a Phase 2 immuno-oncology collaboration with Merck, and licensed and moved into the clinic a next-generation armed virus.

Previously, Alibhai was an investment banker in PJ Solomon's Healthcare Advisory Group, focused on M and A transactions across the life science market.

Formerly, he held investing roles at Alexandria Venture Investments, MPM Capital, and the Accelerator Corp.

Tvardi is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Houston, Texas.
The company was founded in 2017 by Drs. David Tweardy and Ron DePinho and is focused on the development of STAT3 inhibitors.

STAT3 is a key signaling molecule positioned at the intersection of many signaling pathways controlling gene networks integral to the survival and immune sequestration of cancer cells as well as to the pathogenesis of many inflammatory and fibrotic conditions.

Early clinical studies have shown that the company's lead product, TTI-101, is well tolerated and has clinical activity.