Mahesh Karande is a distinguished strategic business leader with extensive operating and transaction experience across the full pharmaceutical life cycle, from early clinical development and IND filing to regulatory approval and global commercialization. Recognized for his superior ability to synthesize complex clinical and financial data into high-impact strategies, he has consistently delivered unprecedented results in various therapeutic areas and international geographies. Beyond his business acumen, Mr. Karande is celebrated for his visionary leadership and his ability to build high-performing teams and a strong organizational culture.

He is currently the CEO of a stealth-mode immunology biotechwith best-in-class multi-specific antibodies
targeting B cells in autoimmune diseases. Previously, as President and CEO of Omega Therapeutics, Mr. Karande transformed a foundational 10-person team with an early scientific concept into a robust clinical-stage biotechnology company of approximately 120 employees. Under his guidance, the company validated its platform technology through IND approval and the completion of a Phase 1 study, while raising approximately $380 million in capital, including a $125 million IPO that reached a peak valuation of $1.5 billion. Throughout his tenure as a public company CEO, he managed critical board committees and secured the company’s first major partnership—a landmark $1Bn+ deal with Novo Nordisk focused on obesity.

Prior to his role at Omega, Mr. Karande served as the CEO of Macrolide Pharma, where he optimized the company’s scientific pipeline and leadership to maximize shareholder return. His foundational executive expertise was developed during a prolific career at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, where he held several high-stakes leadership roles. These included Corporate Vice President leading the $1.7 billion US Oncology solid tumors business, President of Africa overseeing a $300 million portfolio across 46 countries, and President of Egypt, where he managed over 1,800 associates. Notably, he has successfully led teams through periods of profound crisis, including the 2013 military coup in Egypt and the 2014 Ebola crisis in Africa.

With a portfolio of over 50 international partnering deals and experience leading more than 10 product launches, Mr. Karande offers a unique vantage point that bridges early-stage science with sophisticated commercial execution. His expertise encompasses launch preparation, market share protection, and large-scale team management.

Mr. Karande holds an MBA from The Wharton School, a Master’s degree in Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the University of Bombay.