# Dave Licata

> Dave Licata is a Stanford-trained mechanical engineer turned biotech operator who co-founded TORL BioTherapeutics with legendary UCLA oncologist Dennis Slamon. As President and CFO (and founding CEO), he built TORL into a clinical-stage oncology company developing antibody-drug conjugates against targets like Claudin 6 and Claudin 18.2, raising more than $450 million while keeping a reputation for capital efficiency. He is also Executive Chairman of 1200 Pharma and previously founded Holoclara and served as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Caltech.

- **Role:** Co-Founder, President and CFO at TORL BioTherapeutics; Executive Chairman at 1200 Pharma
- **Organizations:** TORL BioTherapeutics, LLC, 1200 Pharma, Holoclara, Inc., Caltech, Arges Imaging, Sirona Dental Systems
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University
- **Known for:** Co-founded TORL BioTherapeutics, a clinical-stage oncology company built around a strategic partnership with the Slamon Research Laboratory at UCLA, Raised more than $450 million in venture financing for TORL across Series B, B-2, and C rounds, Built TORL with a reputation for capital efficiency - reaching its $158M Series B having spent under $50M since inception

## Career timeline

- **2009-2011** — CEO of Arges Imaging
- **2011-2015** — General Manager of Arges Imaging (a Sirona Dental Systems company)
- **2015-2017** — Entrepreneur in Residence at Caltech
- **2017** — Founder and Chairman of the Board at Holoclara, Inc.
- **2018** — Co-founded TORL BioTherapeutics with UCLA oncologist Dr. Dennis Slamon; served as CEO
- **2023** — TORL launches with $158M Series B financing led by Goldman Sachs Asset Management
- **2024** — TORL announces $158M oversubscribed Series B-2; Mark Alles appointed Chairman and CEO
- **2025** — TORL secures $96M Series C; Licata serves as President and CFO; Executive Chairman of 1200 Pharma

## Achievements

- Co-founded TORL BioTherapeutics, a clinical-stage oncology company built around a strategic partnership with the Slamon Research Laboratory at UCLA
- Raised more than $450 million in venture financing for TORL across Series B, B-2, and C rounds
- Built TORL with a reputation for capital efficiency - reaching its $158M Series B having spent under $50M since inception
- Oversaw the start of five Phase 1 clinical trials as founding CEO
- Advanced lead asset TORL-1-23, a first-in-class Claudin 6-targeted antibody-drug conjugate, into pivotal Phase 2 (CATALINA-2)
- Founded Holoclara and served as Executive Chairman of 1200 Pharma

## Latest updates

- **2025-10** — TORL BioTherapeutics secured $96M Series C financing and presented updated Phase 1 results for Claudin 6 ADC TORL-1-23 at the 2025 ESMO Congress.
- **2026** — TORL planning to initiate CATALINA-3 confirmatory Phase 3 study, with pivotal CATALINA-2 data readout expected in 2027.

## Links

- Website: https://torlbio.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-licata-7008477

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/dave-licata
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-13