# Alan Walts

> Alan E. Walts is a chemist, biotechnology executive, investor, company builder, and mentor whose career runs from a 27-year tenure at Genzyme to venture investing at Advent Life Sciences and leadership at Aleta Biotherapeutics. He has helped form and govern multiple life-science companies, including Arrakis Therapeutics, while co-founding the Termeer Institute to extend Henri Termeer's relationship-driven approach to mentoring emerging biotech leaders.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer at Aleta Biotherapeutics
- **Organizations:** Aleta Biotherapeutics, Advent Life Sciences, Termeer Institute, Artax Biopharma, AlphaRose Therapeutics, Neuroelectrics, Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, Arrakis Therapeutics, PIC Therapeutics, Genzyme Corporation
- **Education:** PhD in Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Postdoctoral research in biochemistry with Professor Christopher Walsh, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Program for Management Development, Harvard Business School
- **Known for:** Managed Genzyme Ventures, the corporate venture fund now known as Sanofi Ventures., Led business and corporate development initiatives in Genzyme's therapeutics unit that the company says contributed to multiple marketed products., Served as President of Genzyme Pharmaceuticals and led chemistry and biopolymer research at Genzyme.

## Career timeline

- **1986-2013** — Spent 27 years at Genzyme Corporation in research, general management, business and corporate development, strategy, and venture capital; roles included head of chemistry and biopolymer research, President of Genzyme Pharmaceuticals, and manager of Genzyme Ventures.
- **2013** — Joined Advent Life Sciences as a Venture Partner and began advising Genzyme founder Henri Termeer, continuing through 2017.
- **2013-2019** — Served as a co-founder and director of X4 Pharmaceuticals and as executive chairman and director of Aura Biosciences.
- **2015** — Co-founded Arrakis Therapeutics and initially served as executive chairman and director.
- **2016** — Began serving in board leadership at PIC Therapeutics.
- **2017** — Began serving in board leadership at Artax Biopharma.
- **2018** — Helped convene the inaugural Henri Termeer Legacy Dinner, honoring five fellows.
- **2019** — Co-founded the Termeer Foundation, now the Termeer Institute, with Belinda Termeer.
- **2020** — Became executive chairman of Zikani Therapeutics.
- **2021** — Joined the Eloxx Pharmaceuticals board after its acquisition of Zikani and was appointed a business advisor and board observer at Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals.
- **2024** — Aleta's ALETA-001 entered a Phase I/II clinical trial, with the first patient dosed in February.
- **2025** — Joined Aleta Biotherapeutics as Executive Chairman in June; the company later listed him as CEO.
- **2025** — Aleta and Cancer Research UK reported preliminary Phase I/II findings for ALETA-001 in December.

## Achievements

- Managed Genzyme Ventures, the corporate venture fund now known as Sanofi Ventures.
- Led business and corporate development initiatives in Genzyme's therapeutics unit that the company says contributed to multiple marketed products.
- Served as President of Genzyme Pharmaceuticals and led chemistry and biopolymer research at Genzyme.
- Co-founded life-science companies including Arrakis Therapeutics and X4 Pharmaceuticals.
- Helped establish the Termeer Institute and its mentoring network for emerging life-science leaders.
- Has held board or executive-chair roles across private and public biotechnology companies, including Aura Biosciences, Artax Biopharma, PIC Therapeutics, Zikani, Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, and Aleta Biotherapeutics.
- Is named as an inventor on patents assigned to Genzyme, including work on water-insoluble hyaluronic-acid derivatives and phospholipid-saccharide conjugates.

## Latest updates

- **2025-12** — Aleta Biotherapeutics and Cancer Research UK announced preliminary Phase I/II findings from the ALETA-001 trial, including a tolerable profile at tested doses and early evidence consistent with the drug's intended mechanism.
- **2025-06** — Walts joined Aleta Biotherapeutics as Executive Chairman; Aleta's current team listing and the Termeer Institute identify him as the company's CEO.
- **2024-02** — Aleta and Cancer Research UK's Centre for Drug Development announced that the first patient had been dosed in the ALETA-001 Phase I/II trial.
- **2023-01** — The Termeer Institute published an interview with Walts about the organic beginnings of its fellows program and his view of Henri Termeer as an 'aggregator' of people.

## Links

- Website: https://www.aletabio.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-walts-b4664045

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/alan-walts
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-25