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R.A. Session
Biotech Entrepreneur & Founder
R.A. Session II is a biotech entrepreneur who founded Taysha Gene Therapies in 2019. He served as the company's President and CEO from April 2020 to December 2022.24
Some key points about R.A. Session II:
Professional Background
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He has nearly 20 years of experience in the life sciences industry, primarily in business development, corporate strategy and finance.4
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Prior to founding Taysha, he was:
- Chief Business Officer of the gene therapy subsidiaries of BridgeBio
- Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Business Development at AveXis4
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He has also held roles at companies like PTC Therapeutics, Reata Pharmaceuticals, and AstraZeneca.4
Education
- MBA and MSF from Texas A&M University-Commerce
- BSBA in Finance from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte45
Taysha Gene Therapies
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Founded Taysha in 2019 in partnership with UT Southwestern Medical Center to develop gene therapies for central nervous system diseases.12
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Led the company from stealth mode to IPO in just five months during 2020, raising over $125 million in private funding and then going public.2
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Focused the company's efforts on therapies for Rett syndrome and giant axonal neuropathy.2
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Stepped down as CEO in December 2022 but remains on the company's board of directors.23
R.A. Session II is known for his expertise in biopharmaceuticals, M&A, licensing, valuation, strategic planning, and pricing.4 His leadership helped establish Taysha as a notable player in the gene therapy space, though the company faced challenges in 2022 leading to pipeline cuts and leadership changes.26
