Azitra, Inc. (NYSE:AZTR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for precision dermatology, today announced the appointment of Travis Whitfill as Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Whitfill is the cofounder of Azitra and joins from Bios Partners, a venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage biopharmaceutical companies.
“We are delighted to welcome Travis back to Azitra full time, after his tenure of nearly ten years in biotech venture capital,” said Francisco Salva, President and CEO of Azitra. “Travis brings a wealth of knowledge in biotech, synthetic biology, and drug development. He will be a critical addition to our leadership team as we begin dosing patients in Netherton syndrome with ATR-12 this year.”
Mr. Whitfill is a biotech leader and entrepreneur. He cofounded Azitra in 2014 and has served on the company’s board of directors since 2014. Previously, he was a partner at Bios Partners, a biotechnology-focused venture capital firm, for nine years. He has served on the boards of IN8bio Inc., SIRPant Immunotherapeutics, Immusoft Corporation, and 410 Medical. Mr. Whitfill is also an Associate Professor Adjunct in the Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine at Yale University and has been on the faculty at Yale for seven years. He has led numerous grant-funded projects, holds a dozen patents, and has co-authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications. Mr. Whitfill received an MPH from Yale University and an MPhil from University College London.
“Azitra is developing novel therapies for precision dermatology and is focused on high unmet needs. The company is at an exciting juncture as it begins clinical trials in Netherton syndrome,” said Mr. Whitfill. “I am honored to join Azitra full time and to work closely with the team to bring much-needed therapies to patients suffering from severe skin diseases.”
