Fundraising Fox

Tal Zaks

InvestorFounder

Partner at OrbiMed · Board director at Averna Therapeutics

Newton, Massachusetts, United States

FoundedAverna Therapeutics

About

Partner at OrbiMed holding both M.D. and Ph.D. degrees.

Board director at Averna Therapeutics

Intro paths

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In turn, Tal can intro founders to Averna Therapeutics's investors below.

Averna Therapeutics's investors · 2

Deep InsightTel AvivOrbiMedNew York · $1M – $75M checks · since 2024

Co-founders at Averna Therapeutics

TB
Thomas BarnesChief Executive Officer/President
RM
Richard MorrisChief Financial Officer

Experience

  1. OrbiMedPartner, Private Equitycurrent2022 — presentBoston, Massachusetts, United States
  2. OrbiMedVenture Partner2021 — 2022
  3. Averna TherapeuticsExecutive Chairmancurrent2024 — presentBoston, Massachusetts, United States
  4. Curevo VaccineNon Executive Directorcurrent2025 — present
  5. Minervax ApSNon Executive Directorcurrent2023 — presentDenmark
  6. Convergent Therapeutics, Inc.Non Executive Directorcurrent2023 — presentMassachusetts, United States
  7. iECURE, inc.Non Executive Directorcurrent2022 — presentPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
  8. Teva PharmaceuticalsNon Executive Directorcurrent2021 — present
  9. University of PennsylvaniaAdjunct Associate Professor of Medicine, School of Medicinecurrent2004 — present
  10. PIC TherapeuticsNon Executive Director2022 — 2025Massachusetts, United States
  11. Adaptimmune USNon Executive Director2016 — 2023
  12. Moderna TherapeuticsChief Medical Officer2015 — 2021Cambridge, MA
  13. SanofiSVP, Head of Sanofi Oncology2013 — 2015Cambridge, MA
  14. SanofiVP, Head of Development, Oncology Division2010 — 2014Cambridge, MA
  15. VA Medical CenterAttending, Medical Oncology2008 — 2010
  16. CephalonVP, Clinical Research Oncology2008 — 2010
  17. GlaxoSmithKlineDirector, clinical development and translational medicine2004 — 2008
  18. University of Pennsylvania School of MedicineClinical Fellow2002 — 2004
  19. Temple University HospitalResident1999 — 2002
  20. National Cancer InstitutePostdoctoral fellow1996 — 1999

Education

  1. University of Pennsylvania School of MedicineClinical Fellow, Hematology-Oncology2002 — 2004
  2. Ben-Gurion University of the NegevPhD, Tumor Immunology1992 — 2000
  3. Ben-Gurion University of the NegevMD1986 — 1994
  4. Bar-Ilan UniversityDoctor of Philosophy - PhD honoris causa

Deals · 1

Curevo, Inc.Board seat

via OrbiMed · filed Mar 2025 · $84.8M raise

Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.

Colleagues at OrbiMed

Alexander M. Cooper
Investor at OrbiMed
Alexandria Huynh
Analyst at OrbiMed
Anat Nursella
Venture Partner at OrbiMed
Andrew P. Kanarek, CFA, CIPM
Investor at OrbiMed
Ankesh Bhansali
Investor at OrbiMed
Arun Sadhanandham
Investor at OrbiMed
Bob Smith
Investor at OrbiMed
Brendan Weber
Principal at OrbiMed

Frequently asked questions

Where does Tal Zaks work?
Tal Zaks is Partner at OrbiMed and Founder at Averna Therapeutics.
What companies did Tal Zaks found?
Tal Zaks founded Averna Therapeutics.

Same school

Also attended University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine24

Jun JeonInvestor at Khosla VenturesSeth GlickmanDigital Health Advisor at Excelerate Health VenturesJonathan LeffExecutive Partner, Private Equity at Sofinnova VenturesFrederick JonesAdvisory Partner at BioAdvanceRené KuijtenPartner, Head of EQT Life Sciences at EQT Life SciencesAaron NelsonManaging Director at Novartis Venture Fund

+ 18 more

Also attended Ben-Gurion University of the Negev76

Assaf ArakiInvestment Director at Intel CapitalJonathan PacificiVenture Capitalist, Entrepreneur and Community Leader; General Partner at Sixth Millennium Venture Partners at Sixth Millennium Venture Partners Management, LlcYair SchindelCo-Founder & Managing Partner at aMoonShimon TsentsiperVenture Partner at Key1 CapitalRoy KimchiSenior Associate at Square Peg CapitalAtad PeledPartner at Red Dot Capital Partners

+ 70 more

Also attended Bar-Ilan University82

Yaron CarniFounder at Maverick Ventures IsraelGil RotenbergInvestment Principal at Samsung Catalyst FundDina RaabController at PeakSpan Capital PartnersAdi HarariCFO at Key1 CapitalBarak SalomonManaging Partner at Red Dot Capital PartnersGadi PoratGeneral Partner at Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP)

+ 76 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Averna Therapeutics4

Mathias FrederiksenPrincipal at Novartis Venture FundNick OlsenPrincipal at Innovation EndeavorsEric HuangPartner at Delos CapitalDylan MorrisManaging Director at Insight Partners

Also worked at Curevo Vaccine1

Kabeer AzizCo-Founder and Partner at Adjuvant Capital

Also worked at University of Pennsylvania110

Wesley BarrowPartner at Correlation VenturesDavid MagermanManaging Partner at Differential VenturesNuan ZhangInvestor at Episode1Vyas RamananVenture Partner at Third Rock VenturesLouis BernemanFounding Partner at Osage University PartnersBrian HalakManaging Partner at Medical Excellence Capital

+ 104 more

Also worked at Moderna Therapeutics10

Noubar AfeyanInvestor at Flagship PioneeringJordan SilvaCampus Lead at The MBA FundLee CooperManaging Director at Delos CapitalEric HuangPartner at Delos CapitalTej PavoorPartner at Delos CapitalJoe CabralPrincipal at Frazier Life Sciences

+ 4 more