René Russo

Dr. Russo has served as a member of our board of directors since April 2016. Since May 2019, Dr. Russo is serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Akrevia Therapeutics, LLC, a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing immuno-oncology therapeutics. Previously during her three year tenure at Arsanis, Dr. Russo served as President and Chief Executive Officer from April 2016 to November 2018 and as Chief Development Officer from July 2015 until April 2016. Earlier in her career, Dr. Russo served in various roles over an 11-year period at Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a public pharmaceutical development company, focused on the development and commercialization of infectious disease therapeutics, from 2003 until its acquisition by Merck in May 2015, most recently as its Vice President, Global Medical Affairs. From 1999 to 2004, she held roles of increasing responsibility at Bristol-Myers Squibb where she started her industry career as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Industrial Pharmacy Infectious Diseases. Prior to joining the biotechnology industry, Dr. Russo held clinical positions at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Princeton Hospital. Dr. Russo received her Pharm.D. and B.S. from Rutgers University.