Holoclara Announces Head of Research and Development Hire

PASADENA, Cal.- Holoclara announces that it has appointed Brian Varnum, Ph.D., as Head of Research and Development. Dr. Varnum brings more than 30 years of expertise in the biotechnology industry with recent roles as an executive and advisor for various organizations. At Holoclara, he will lead our R&D initiatives as we prepare to take our first-in-class therapeutics into clinical trials later this year.

He is the former CEO and Chief Development Officer of Armata Pharmaceuticals, where he oversaw the growth and advancement of the company's pipeline of bacteriophage-based therapeutics; securing partnerships, funding, and regulatory approvals. Previously, Dr. Varnum served as Chief Development Officer of C3 Jian, Chief Scientific Officer of Tarrot, and Executive Director of Inflammation at Amgen.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Varnum join our team,” said Andrea Choe, CEO of Holoclara. “His experience in leading groundbreaking research and development efforts will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and expand our capabilities. We are confident that he will advance our mission to bring a new class of medicine to millions of people suffering from chronic, debilitating diseases.”

Dr. Varnum holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and A.B. in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.

“I am excited to join Holoclara and lead the R&D team during such a pivotal time,” said Dr. Varnum. “I look forward to working with the talented team here to drive our innovative lead molecule into the clinic and to strengthen our discovery engine that will identify additional novel, worm-derived molecules with the potential to impact human disease.”