# Robert Jacks

> Robert Jacks is President & CEO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals, a Boston-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted therapies for disorders driven by intracellular cortisol excess. In September 2025 he closed a $95 million Series B co-led by RA Capital and Forbion to advance clofutriben, an HSD-1 inhibitor, through a Phase 2b trial in type 2 diabetes patients with elevated cortisol. A civil engineer turned biotech operator, Jacks has spent 25 years in the industry, co-founded Symbiomix Therapeutics (sold after Solosec NDA approval), previously led Indalo Therapeutics, and has raised more than $300 million across his companies.

- **Role:** President & CEO at Sparrow Pharmaceuticals
- **Organizations:** Sparrow Pharmaceuticals, Indalo Therapeutics, Symbiomix Therapeutics, Tobira Therapeutics, ACT Biotech, OrbiMed Advisors, Daristen Health, Pfizer
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** MBA, Columbia Business School, MSE, Civil Engineering, Stanford University, BSE, Civil Engineering, Duke University
- **Known for:** Raised more than $300 million across founded or co-founded companies, Co-founded Symbiomix Therapeutics, which was sold after NDA approval for Solosec, Closed a $95M Series B for Sparrow Pharmaceuticals in September 2025

## Career timeline

- **early career** — Joined Pfizer in finance and product development; last role Director of Business Development for Oncology and Infectious Diseases
- **later** — Founded Daristen Health, a corporate development consultancy
- **later** — Co-Founded Symbiomix Therapeutics; served as President & CFO; company sold after Solosec NDA approval
- **later** — Head of Business Development at ACT Biotech
- **later** — SVP of Corporate Development at Tobira Therapeutics
- **later** — Entrepreneur-in-Residence at OrbiMed Advisors
- **later** — President & CEO of Indalo Therapeutics
- **2021-05** — Appointed President & CEO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals
- **2025-09** — Closed $95M Series B co-led by RA Capital and Forbion

## Achievements

- Raised more than $300 million across founded or co-founded companies
- Co-founded Symbiomix Therapeutics, which was sold after NDA approval for Solosec
- Closed a $95M Series B for Sparrow Pharmaceuticals in September 2025
- Advanced clofutriben (SPI-62) into a Phase 2b trial (CAPTAIN-T2D)

## Latest updates

- **2025-09** — Sparrow announced $95M Series B financing co-led by RA Capital Management and Forbion, with participation from OrbiMed, RiverVest, and US Venture Partners.
- **2025-09** — Sparrow advanced clofutriben into a Phase 2b trial (CAPTAIN-T2D) for type 2 diabetes with elevated cortisol; results expected in 2027.

## Links

- Website: https://sparrowpharma.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-jacks-6b5457/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/sparrowpharma

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/robert-jacks
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-08