Rebecca Velez Frey

Rebecca is a versatile CEO and board director with twenty-five years of experience in drug development, manufacturing and leadership. Her experience spans a wide range of therapeutic areas and platforms in large pharma and small biotech. She has served as President and CEO of Siduma Therapeutics since 2021. In addition to Octant, she also serves on the board of Halda Therapeutics. She has previously held key operational leadership roles in emerging biotech companies including EvolveImmune Therapeutics, Cardurion Pharmaceuticals and Prevail Therapeutics. Prior to these roles, she spent eleven years working in medical affairs, development, corporate affairs and manufacturing at Alexion Pharmaceuticals where she led successful development programs, integrations and global enterprise projects. Earlier in her career she worked in development and medical affairs at Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

Rebecca is passionate about building a strong and inclusive bioscience ecosystem. She serves as a venture partner with Elm Street Ventures and volunteers with BioLaunch, a biotech job training program based in New Haven, Connecticut. In 2020 she co-founded Executive Women in Bio of Connecticut. She is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board of the Bouvé College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University and is an active member of Latinos in Bio.

Rebecca earned a Doctorate in Pharmacy from Northeastern University and completed a clinical fellowship at Tufts Medical Center. She additionally holds an Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership from the MIT Sloan School of Management.