BOSTON, Mass. — Strand Therapeutics has appointed Kunal Bhatia as chief financial officer as the clinical-stage biotechnology company advances its programmable mRNA platform and broader clinical strategy.
Bhatia brings 15 years of investment banking experience, having led fundraising, business development, and mergers and acquisitions for more than 100 public and private biopharmaceutical companies.
“With early validation of our platform in the clinic, we have built a pipeline from solid tumor immuno-oncology to systemic delivery to in vivo cell therapy. As we enter the next chapter, we’ve identified a financial leader who matches Strand’s ambition and momentum,” said Jake Becraft, PhD, co-founder and chief executive officer of Strand Therapeutics. “Having worked alongside some of the most ambitious biotech builders through capital raises and transactions, Kunal knows what it takes to scale innovative platform companies through their critical growth stages.”
Before joining Strand, Bhatia served as interim chief financial officer and chief business officer for a portfolio of private life sciences companies. He was previously a managing director in the healthcare investment banking group at Cowen, where he played a key role in expanding the firm’s life sciences business. Earlier in his career, he held investment banking positions at Jefferies and Credit Suisse.
“Strand is at an inflection point, with clinical momentum, a growing pipeline, and the kind of investor syndicate that reflects real conviction in the platform,” Bhatia said. “I’m looking forward to working with the team to build on that foundation as the company enters its next phase.”
The appointment follows a series of corporate and clinical milestones over the past year, including a $153 million Series B financing led by Kinnevik with participation from Regeneron Ventures, Amgen Ventures, and Eli Lilly. The company also expanded its leadership team and board of directors and reported initial Phase 1 data for STX-001 in patients with advanced solid tumors who had exhausted other treatment options.
Strand plans to move STX-003 into clinical trials in mid-2026 while continuing to broaden its platform across multiple therapeutic areas. Company officials said Bhatia’s financial and strategic experience will support its next stage of growth.
