Mahesh Karande

Mahesh Karande is the President and CEO of Omega Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that is focused on pioneering a new class of mRNA therapeutics known as programmable epigenetic medicines. He has held this position since April 2019 and has been instrumental in translating innovative scientific concepts into viable drug development platforms, particularly in areas such as oncology, regenerative medicine, and immunology.12

Professional Background

Before joining Omega Therapeutics, Karande served as the CEO of Macrolide Pharmaceuticals, where he played a key role in addressing financial and operational challenges to advance the company's scientific objectives. His earlier career includes significant leadership roles at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, where he was the Vice President and Head of U.S. Oncology for solid tumors, as well as President of Novartis Africa and Egypt. His tenure at Novartis involved overseeing numerous product launches and partnership deals across emerging markets.13

Education

Karande holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Master's degree in Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He completed his undergraduate studies in engineering at the University of Bombay.14

Vision and Impact

Under his leadership, Omega Therapeutics has made significant strides, including showcasing preliminary clinical data that demonstrates the potential of their technology to control gene expression, particularly targeting historically difficult-to-drug oncogenes like MYC. Karande aims to leverage advancements in gene regulation to develop novel treatments that address the root causes of diseases rather than merely managing symptoms.23