SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Capstan Therapeutics, Inc. (“Capstan”), a biotechnology company dedicated to advancing in vivo reprogramming of cells through mRNA delivery using targeted lipid nanoparticles (tLNP), today announced the appointment of Ramin Farzaneh-Far, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer and the promotion of Miguel Arcinas to Senior Vice President, Corporate Development.
Dr. Farzaneh-Far brings to Capstan over 15 years of experience in the design, implementation, and interpretation of clinical trials across all phases of development and multiple therapeutic areas, including autoimmune disease.
“As we prepare to advance our in vivo technology to the clinic, Ramin’s track record in autoimmune disease drug development, his passion for advancing novel therapies for patients, and his leadership experience at multiple successful biotechnology companies will be invaluable to our organization,” said Dr. Laura Shawver, President and Chief Executive Officer of Capstan. “We are thrilled to have Ramin join our executive leadership team and to share in our vision of multiplying the therapeutic possibilities for patients.”
Dr. Farzaneh-Far joins Capstan from RA Capital where he has been a Venture Partner since 2020. Previously, he was Chief Medical Officer at Ra Pharmaceuticals from 2016 until its acquisition by UCB in 2020 and led the clinical development of zilucoplan (Zilbrysq ®), a complement C5 inhibitor recently approved in the United States, Europe, and Japan for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis. He previously led global clinical development programs at Akebia Therapeutics and Gilead Sciences. Dr. Farzaneh-Far completed his internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in immunology from the University of Cambridge, an M.D. from University College London, and an MAS in clinical research from UCSF.
“Capstan is ideally positioned to be the leader in in vivo CAR-T therapy, and has the potential to positively impact the lives of millions of patients who suffer from B cell mediated autoimmune disorders,” said Dr. Farzaneh-Far. “I look forward to working with Capstan’s accomplished and experienced leadership team to advance potentially transformative therapies to the clinic.”
Mr. Arcinas brings extensive leadership experience in biopharma corporate development, strategy, and will continue to lead corporate development initiatives for Capstan. “Miguel’s broad-based experience in strategic partnerships and transactions, capital formation, and platform expansion will be critical in helping drive the next phase of growth for Capstan,” said Dr. Shawver. “I am pleased to announce Miguel’s promotion in recognition of his contributions to the organization.”
Mr. Arcinas joined Capstan in 2021 as the company’s Vice President of Corporate Development. He has over 15 years of multi-disciplinary experience in biotech corporate strategy, business development, investor relations, and clinical operations. Prior to Capstan, Mr. Arcinas served as Vice President of Corporate Development and Investor Relations at Silverback Therapeutics, contributing to the company’s Series C financing, IPO, and merger activities. He has held corporate development and operational roles of increasing responsibility at biopharma companies including Synthorx (acquired by Sanofi), Acadia Pharma, and Ignyta (acquired by Roche). Mr. Arcinas holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a B.S. from the University of California, Los Angeles.
About Capstan Therapeutic, Inc. (www.capstantx.com)
Capstan is a biotechnology company with a mission to multiply the therapeutic possibilities for patients by developing targeted in vivo RNA technologies. The core platform technology comprises proprietary targeted lipid nanoparticles (tLNPs) that are composed of LNPs conjugated with a recombinant protein binder, such as a monoclonal antibody. tLNPs are designed to deliver payloads, including mRNA or gene editing tools, capable of reprogramming specific cell types in vivo. The platform technology has the potential to generate transformative therapies with possible applications across a broad range of disease areas, including autoimmune disorders, oncology, fibrosis, and monogenic blood disorders. For more information, please visit www.capstantx.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
