# Pavan Cheruvu

> Dr. Pavan K. Cheruvu is the President and CEO of Bitterroot Bio, a Palo Alto-based biotech pioneering the field of cardio-immunology — the intersection of the immune system and cardiovascular disease. A Rhodes Scholar, board-certified cardiologist, and physician-scientist who trained at Duke, Oxford, Harvard/MIT, Johns Hopkins, and UCSF, Cheruvu is guiding Bitterroot Bio's lead program BRB-002 — a first-in-class CD47-targeting therapy for atherosclerosis — through clinical development after a landmark $145M Series A in 2023 and positive Phase 1 results in 2025.

- **Role:** President & CEO at Bitterroot Bio; Board Chair at Imbria Pharmaceuticals
- **Organizations:** Bitterroot Bio, Imbria Pharmaceuticals, Sio Gene Therapies (former), Roivant Sciences (former), McKinsey & Company (former)
- **From:** Michigan, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Dual B.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering and Electrical Engineering (summa cum laude), Duke University, MSc in Computer Science; MSc in Neuroscience (Rhodes Scholar), University of Oxford, MD (joint program), Harvard Medical School / MIT, Residency in Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Clinical Fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
- **Known for:** Rhodes Scholar (Class of 2002) - elected from Florida while studying at Duke University at age 20, Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans recipient, Named CEO of Axovant/Sio Gene Therapies at a young age, one of the first physician-CEOs in gene therapy

## Career timeline

- **2001** — Named a Rhodes Scholar while studying at Duke University, age 20 - one of America's most prestigious academic honors
- **2002-2004** — Studied at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar; earned MSc in Computer Science and MSc in Neuroscience
- **2004-2008** — Earned MD through joint Harvard Medical School and MIT Health Sciences and Technology program
- **~2008-2011** — Completed residency in Internal Medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital
- **~2011-2014** — Completed cardiovascular medicine fellowship at UCSF
- **~2014-2016** — Policy intern at White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)
- **~2015-2017** — Management consultant at McKinsey & Company, specializing in R&D strategy and M&A for biopharma
- **~2017-2018** — Early executive team member at Roivant Sciences (Chief of Staff and Chief People Officer)
- **2018** — Named President and CEO of Axovant Sciences (later renamed Sio Gene Therapies)
- **2022** — Departed Sio Gene Therapies after guiding gene therapy pivot; company subsequently liquidated
- **2021-2023** — Joined Bitterroot Bio (founded 2021) as founding CEO, working in stealth mode
- **2023-06** — Bitterroot Bio launched publicly with $145M Series A - largest-ever raise for a preclinical CVD biotech at the time
- **2024-04** — BRB-002 dosed in first human participants in Phase 1 clinical trial
- **2024-10** — Bitterroot Bio completed enrollment in Phase 1 study of BRB-002 in healthy volunteers
- **2025-01** — Announced positive Phase 1 results: BRB-002 safe at all doses, achieved up to 100% CD47 receptor occupancy, no serious adverse events
- **2025-03** — Phase 1 BRB-002 results presented at American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session 2025 in Chicago
- **2025-09** — Named Independent Chair of the Board of Directors at Imbria Pharmaceuticals

## Achievements

- Rhodes Scholar (Class of 2002) - elected from Florida while studying at Duke University at age 20
- Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans recipient
- Named CEO of Axovant/Sio Gene Therapies at a young age, one of the first physician-CEOs in gene therapy
- Led Bitterroot Bio to $145M Series A in June 2023 - described as the largest-ever raise for a preclinical CVD-focused biotech
- Guided BRB-002 from concept to successful Phase 1 clinical trial with positive safety and efficacy data
- Held patent on a portable urine analyzer developed while an undergraduate at Duke
- Co-authored or contributed to research at the intersection of immunology and cardiovascular medicine
- Appointed Board Chair at Imbria Pharmaceuticals in September 2025

## Latest updates

- **2025-09** — Appointed Independent Chair of the Board at Imbria Pharmaceuticals following their Series B funding completion
- **2025-03** — Presented detailed Phase 1 BRB-002 results at American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session in Chicago
- **2025-01** — Announced positive Phase 1 data for BRB-002: safe at all doses, up to 100% CD47 receptor occupancy, no serious adverse events
- **2024-10** — Completed enrollment in Phase 1 First-in-Human Study of BRB-002 in healthy volunteers
- **2024-10** — Featured in Biotech 2050 Podcast episode on revolutionizing cardiovascular health with cardio-immunology
- **2024-04** — Dosed first participants in Phase 1 study of BRB-002 - a major clinical milestone for Bitterroot Bio
- **2023-06** — Launched Bitterroot Bio publicly with $145M Series A, co-led by ARCH Venture Partners and Deerfield Management

## Links

- Website: https://brbio.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/pavan-cheruvu-117b5310a
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/BitterrootBio
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090938607003

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/pavan-cheruvu
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-13