# Judy Chou

> Dr. Judy Chou is the President, CEO, and Board Member of AltruBio Inc., a clinical-stage biotech company in San Francisco pioneering a first-in-class immune checkpoint enhancer platform targeting PSGL-1/CD162 to treat autoimmune diseases. With over 25 years of experience spanning Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Genentech, and Wyeth, she led AltruBio through a landmark $225M Series B financing in 2024 and is advancing lead candidate ALTB-268 through Phase 2 trials for ulcerative colitis. Recognized as one of Endpoints News' Top 20 Women in Biopharma (2025) and a Most Influential Women in Business honoree (San Francisco Business Times, 2018), she holds a Ph.D. from Yale University and conducted post-doctoral training at the Max-Planck Institute in Germany.

- **Role:** President, CEO, and Board Member at AltruBio Inc.
- **Organizations:** AltruBio Inc., Akero Therapeutics (Board of Directors), California Institute for Regenerative Medicine / CIRM (Board Member), UC Berkeley Engineering School (Advisory Board), Silicon Valley Women in Engineering (Advisory Board)
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Ph.D. in Biotechnology, Cell Biology, and Neuroscience, Yale University, Post-doctoral training, Max-Planck Institute, Germany, Research Faculty Member (Cell Biology and Neuroscience), Harvard University Medical School
- **Known for:** Led AltruBio to raise $327M+ in total funding, including oversubscribed $225M Series B in 2024, Named to Endpoints News Top 20 Women in Biopharma (2025), Most Influential Women in Business Award, San Francisco Business Times (2018)

## Career timeline

- **early career** — Research Faculty Member, Harvard University Medical School (cell biology and neuroscience)
- **early career** — Post-doctoral training, Max-Planck Institute, Germany
- **2000s** — Roles at Genentech, Wyeth Biopharma
- **mid career** — Vice President of Pharmaceutical Operations, Pfizer/Medivation - led biologics and small molecule development
- **mid career** — VP of R&D and Manufacturing, Tanvex Biopharma - helped achieve company IPO
- **mid career** — Senior Vice President and Global Head of Biotech, Bayer Pharmaceuticals - managed $3B+ portfolio and 2,000+ employees
- **2018** — Named Most Influential Women in Business by San Francisco Business Times
- **2019** — Joined AbGenomics (later renamed AltruBio) as President and CEO
- **2021** — Led $63M Series A financing; strategic pivot to focus on ulcerative colitis as key indication
- **2022** — Enrolled first patient in Phase 1b study of ALTB-168 in steroid-refractory acute GvHD
- **2022** — Appointed to governing board of California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)
- **2023** — First patient dosed in Phase 1 trial of ALTB-268 for ulcerative colitis (January 2023)
- **2024** — Appointed to Board of Directors of Akero Therapeutics (NASDAQ: AKRO)
- **2024-05** — Led oversubscribed $225M Series B financing led by BVF Partners LP
- **2024-10** — Presented new in-vivo data for ALTB-268 at FIMSA 2024 Congress
- **2024-12** — Announced formation of AltruBio Scientific Advisory Board with three leading immunologists
- **2025** — Named to Endpoints News Top 20 Women in Biopharma list
- **2025** — Phase 2a ALTB-268 UC study primary endpoint readout anticipated

## Achievements

- Led AltruBio to raise $327M+ in total funding, including oversubscribed $225M Series B in 2024
- Named to Endpoints News Top 20 Women in Biopharma (2025)
- Most Influential Women in Business Award, San Francisco Business Times (2018)
- Managed $3B+ product portfolio and 2,000+ employees as SVP Global Head of Biotech at Bayer
- Contributed to Tanvex Biopharma IPO as VP of R&D and Manufacturing
- Appointed to CIRM governing board (California's stem cell and gene therapy agency)
- Board member of Akero Therapeutics (NASDAQ: AKRO)
- Pioneered first-in-class PSGL-1 immune checkpoint enhancer approach in autoimmune diseases
- Advanced ALTB-268 through Phase 1 into Phase 2a for ulcerative colitis
- Built positive proof-of-concept data across four autoimmune/inflammatory diseases with ALTB-168

## Latest updates

- **2025-05** — Phase 2a study of ALTB-268 in ulcerative colitis primary endpoint readout anticipated in 1H 2025; Phase 2b global study initiation planned for 1H 2025
- **2025-02** — Preclinical data for ALTB-268 presented at FOCIS 2025
- **2024-12** — AltruBio formed Scientific Advisory Board with Vijay Kuchroo, Bernard Malissen, and Arlene Sharpe
- **2024-10** — New in-vivo data for ALTB-268 presented at 9th FIMSA 2024 Congress
- **2024-05** — AltruBio closed oversubscribed $225M Series B led by BVF Partners LP with RA Capital, Cormorant, and Soleus Capital

## Links

- Website: https://altrubio.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/judy-chou-ph-d-biotech

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/judy-chou
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-14