Aura Biosciences added Jeremy Bender, Ph.D., M.B.A., to its board of directors as the company moves closer to a potential regulatory decision on bel-sar.
Bender most recently ran Day One Biopharmaceuticals as chief executive officer, president and board member, where he oversaw the company’s transition into a commercial oncology business, including the approval and launch of Ojemda for pediatric low-grade glioma. Day One was later acquired by Servier for about $2.5 billion in 2026.
Before Day One, Bender was vice president of corporate development at Gilead Sciences. He also held executive roles at Tizona Therapeutics, Sutro Biopharma and Allos Therapeutics, and started his career at Boston Consulting Group in its life sciences practice.
Aura said the appointment comes as enrollment has been completed in the Phase 3 COMPASS trial and bel-sar advances toward potential regulatory approval. The company is positioning the drug as a frontline, vision-preserving treatment for early choroidal melanoma.
Bender has also served on the board of Mereo Biopharma Group and previously sat on the board of Fusion Pharmaceuticals. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Stanford, a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado and an M.B.A. from MIT Sloan. As a result of these announcements, the company's shares have moved 0.14% on the market, and are now trading at a price of $7.04. For the full picture, make sure to review Aura Biosciences's 8-K report.
