Coya Therapeutics Details Upcoming Board Transition, Names Mark H. Pavao as Independent Director
Coya Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative biologic therapies designed to enhance regulatory T cell (Treg) function in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, has announced a significant leadership transition alongside a strategic addition to its Board of Directors. These developments come at a pivotal time for the company as it advances its clinical pipeline, including late-stage studies of its lead therapeutic candidate.
The company revealed that its founder, Howard Berman, Ph.D., has stepped down from his role as Executive Chairman and has also resigned from the Board of Directors. At the same time, Mark H. Pavao has been appointed as an independent director, bringing extensive commercial leadership experience to support Coya’s next phase of growth.
Dr. Berman’s departure marks the culmination of a previously planned leadership transition that began in November 2024. At that time, he moved into the Executive Chairman role as part of a structured process that included the appointment of Arun Swaminathan, Ph.D., as Chief Executive Officer. The transition was designed to ensure continuity while positioning the company for long-term success under new executive leadership. His decision to step down at this juncture reflects the successful completion of that transition plan.
As the founder of Coya Therapeutics, Dr. Berman has played a central role in shaping the company’s vision, strategy, and scientific direction. Under his leadership, Coya evolved from an early-stage startup into a publicly traded biotechnology company, successfully completing its initial public offering and advancing multiple therapeutic programs into clinical development. His contributions have been particularly instrumental in establishing the company’s focus on targeting immune system dysfunction—specifically regulatory T cell biology—as a novel approach to treating neurodegenerative diseases.
CEO Arun Swaminathan acknowledged Dr. Berman’s profound impact on the organization, emphasizing his entrepreneurial drive and scientific insight. He noted that Dr. Berman’s leadership helped guide the company through critical milestones, including its IPO and the progression of its lead candidate, COYA 302, into a Phase 2b clinical trial. Swaminathan also expressed personal gratitude for Dr. Berman’s mentorship, highlighting the influence he has had on both the company’s trajectory and its leadership team.
In reflecting on his tenure, Dr. Berman described his experience founding and building Coya Therapeutics as deeply rewarding. He expressed confidence in the company’s current leadership and direction, particularly under Swaminathan’s guidance as CEO. According to Dr. Berman, the company is well-positioned to continue executing its strategy, supported by strong operational performance and a robust clinical pipeline.
A key focus for Coya Therapeutics moving forward is its lead asset, COYA 302, a differentiated combination therapy designed to enhance regulatory T cell function. The therapy is currently being evaluated in the ALSTARS clinical trial, a Phase 2b study in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a progressive and devastating neurodegenerative condition characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and ultimately respiratory failure. There remains a significant unmet need for effective therapies that can slow or halt disease progression.
Dr. Berman highlighted the importance of the upcoming data readout from the ALSTARS trial, describing it as a critical milestone for the company. The results of this study could provide important insights into the therapeutic potential of COYA 302 and help determine its future development pathway, including potential regulatory and commercialization strategies.
While stepping away from his formal roles at Coya, Dr. Berman indicated that he will be focusing on several other leadership initiatives. His continued involvement in the broader biotechnology and healthcare ecosystem suggests that his influence will extend beyond his tenure at the company he founded.
At the same time, Coya Therapeutics is strengthening its Board of Directors with the appointment of Mark H. Pavao as an independent director. Mr. Pavao brings more than three decades of experience in the global biopharmaceutical industry, with a track record of leading commercial organizations and executing successful product launches across a wide range of therapeutic areas, including neuroscience.
Throughout his career, Mr. Pavao has held senior leadership roles at several prominent organizations, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, R-Pharm US, and Biotech Value Advisors, LLC. His experience spans both emerging biotechnology companies and large, established pharmaceutical franchises, giving him a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities associated with bringing new therapies to market.
In addition to his executive roles, Mr. Pavao currently serves as Chair of the Board of Medical Knowledge Group and holds board positions at Perosphere Technologies and MiracleFeet. These roles reflect his broad engagement across the healthcare landscape, including both commercial and nonprofit sectors.
Dieter Weinand, Chair of Coya’s Nominating Committee, подчеркнул the importance of adding commercial expertise to the Board at this stage in the company’s development. As Coya continues to advance its clinical programs and approaches potential commercialization, the need for strategic guidance in areas such as market access, product positioning, and launch execution becomes increasingly critical. Weinand expressed confidence that Mr. Pavao’s experience will provide valuable insights as the company navigates these next steps.
Mr. Pavao, in turn, expressed enthusiasm about joining Coya Therapeutics and contributing to its mission. He highlighted the strength of the company’s scientific approach and the progress it has made in advancing its clinical pipeline. In particular, he noted the potential for Coya’s therapies to make a meaningful impact for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
He also emphasized his interest in working closely with the company’s management team and fellow board members as Coya transitions from a clinical-stage organization to one with commercial aspirations. This transition represents a significant inflection point for any biotechnology company, requiring careful planning and execution to ensure that promising therapies can successfully reach patients.
Coya Therapeutics’ focus on regulatory T cell biology represents a novel and potentially transformative approach to treating neurodegenerative diseases. By enhancing the function of Tregs, the company aims to address underlying immune dysregulation and neuroinflammation, which are increasingly recognized as key drivers of disease progression in conditions such as ALS and FTD.
As the company continues to advance its pipeline and prepare for key clinical milestones, the combination of experienced leadership and strategic board oversight will be essential. The departure of a founder can often represent a moment of transition, but in this case, it appears to be part of a carefully planned evolution designed to position the company for its next phase of growth.
In conclusion, the leadership changes at Coya Therapeutics reflect both continuity and renewal. Dr. Howard Berman’s departure marks the end of a foundational chapter in the company’s history, while the appointment of Mark H. Pavao signals a forward-looking approach focused on commercialization and long-term value creation. With a strong executive team, an experienced Board, and a promising clinical pipeline, Coya Therapeutics is well-positioned to continue advancing its mission of developing innovative therapies for patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
About Coya Therapeutics, Inc.
Headquartered in Houston, TX, Coya Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: COYA) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing proprietary treatments focused on the biology and potential therapeutic advantages of regulatory T cells (“Tregs”) to target systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation. Dysfunctional Tregs underlie numerous conditions, including neurodegenerative, metabolic, and autoimmune diseases. This cellular dysfunction may lead to sustained inflammation and oxidative stress resulting in lack of homeostasis of the immune system.
Coya’s investigational product candidate pipeline leverages multiple therapeutic modalities aimed at restoring the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions of Tregs. Coya’s therapeutic platforms include Treg-enhancing biologics, Treg-derived exosomes, and autologous Treg cell therapy.
For more information about Coya, please visit www.coyatherapeutics.com.
About COYA 302
COYA 302 is an investigational and proprietary biologic combination therapy with a dual immunomodulatory mechanism of action intended to enhance the anti-inflammatory function of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and suppress the inflammation produced by activated monocytes and macrophages. COYA 302 comprises proprietary low dose interleukin-2 (LD IL-2) and CTLA-4 Ig and is being developed for subcutaneous administration for the treatment of patients with ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. These mechanisms may have additive or synergistic effects.
Coya is currently conducting the ALSTARS Trial, a Phase 2, randomized, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of COYA 302 for the treatment of ALS (Identifier: NCT07161999).
COYA 302 is an investigational product not yet approved by the FDA or any other regulatory agency.
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