Aura Biosciences AURA

J. Jill Hopkins, M.D. has served as our Chief Medical Officer and President of Research & Development since October 2023. Prior to this role, Dr. Hopkins served as senior vice president, global head of ophthalmology and exploratory development at Novartis and chief executive officer of Gyroscope Therapeutics (formerly Nasdaq: VISN), a Novartis company, where she was responsible for the global ophthalmic pipeline and portfolio of medicines, gene therapy, devices and digital solutions to impact eye disease and reduce visual impairment globally. Previously, Dr. Hopkins spent over a decade at Roche-Genentech in roles of increasing responsibility, most recently as global head ophthalmology personalized health care. Before Roche-Genentech, she spent over 20 years in clinical retinal research and academic practice at the University of Toronto, University of Southern California and Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group. Dr. Hopkins has over 30 years of cross-sector experience in ophthalmology, spanning clinical care, academia, education, industry, advocacy and innovation. Dr. Hopkins received her M.D. from McMaster University and completed her Ophthalmology residency at the University of Toronto. She has completed fellowships in Retinal Disease from Moorfields Eye Hospital in London UK and in Visual Electrophysiology from the Universities of Toronto and Ottawa. Dr. Hopkins is board certified in Ophthalmology from the American Board of Ophthalmology and the Royal College of Surgeons Canada.

Teresa Marie Bitetti has served as a member of our Board of Directors since March 2025. Since April 2019, Ms. Bitetti has served as President of the Global Oncology Business Unit and a member of the Executive Team at Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, where she oversees a global portfolio of therapies targeting gastrointestinal, thoracic, and hematological cancers. In this role, Ms. Bitetti leads all aspects of Takeda's multi-billion-dollar oncology business, with major markets in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Before joining Takeda, Ms. Bitetti was Senior Vice President and Head of Worldwide Oncology Commercialization at Bristol Myers Squibb, or BMS, from 2017 to 2019. Her experience at BMS, since joining the company in 1996, also included leadership roles in infectious diseases and neuroscience. While at BMS, she served as Senior Vice President and Head of U.S. Oncology, President and General Manager of BMS Canada, and Worldwide Head of BMS Virology. Prior to BMS, Ms. Bitetti was part of the Capital Markets Group at Mobil Oil Corporation, overseeing the investment of Mobil's worldwide pension assets. In addition to her role at Takeda, Ms. Bitetti serves on the board of directors for Osmol Therapeutics, Inc., which is focused on developing a treatment to prevent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Ms. Bitetti earned her MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and her bachelor's degree from Wellesley College.

David (Dave) Johnson has served as a member of our Board of Directors since January 2021. He has 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical space. Since July 2021, he has been founder and chief executive officer of Solve Therapeutics, Inc., a venture-backed start-up focused on developing next-generation monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based oncology therapeutics. Prior to Solve Therapeutics, Inc., Mr. Johnson was chief executive officer of VelosBio Inc., which he founded in December 2017 based upon technology licensed from Tom Kipps of University of California, San Diego, built out as a fully functioning preclinical through clinical development organization, and led through an acquisition by Merck & Co. in December 2020 for $2.75B. VelosBio Inc. was an oncology-focused, biopharmaceutical company advancing novel ROR1-directed ADCs and bispecific antibodies, or BiAbs. VLS-101 Phase 1 clinical proof of concept data was presented at the American Society of Hematology Meeting in the fourth quarter of 2020 and published in manuscript form in 2021. Before VelosBio Inc., Mr. Johnson was with Acerta Pharma, LLC, an oncology-focused pharmaceutical company focused on covalent small-molecule technology where he rose to chief executive officer. While with Acerta Pharma, LLC, he built out all facets of the corporation, including accelerating the growth of acalabrutinib to rapidly move from early- to late-stage clinical development and launching four global registration directed trials, including an accelerated approval study which ultimately delivered acalabrutinib's first regulatory approval. His tenure culminated in the execution of a strategic transaction with AstraZeneca valued at $7B. Mr. Johnson is a board member of Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZNTL), which is focused on the creation of differentiated small molecules targeting fundamental biological pathways of cancer. From April 2021 until its acquisition by Blueprint Medicine Corporation in December 2021, Mr. Johnson served as chairman of Lengo Therapeutics. Since November 2021, Mr. Johnson has also been a board member of Palleon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on novel IO therapeutics targeting the immunosuppressive cell surface sialoglycan system associated with cancer cells. Prior to his Chief Executive Officer and board roles, Mr. Johnson held various biopharmaceutical roles of increasing responsibility with Calistoga Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Gilead Sciences), Gloucester Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Celgene), Millennium (acquired by Takeda), Immunex (acquired by Amgen), and Hoffman La-Roche making contributions to many drugs garnering regulatory approval. He has raised $750m+ in biopharma capital and delivered transactions valued at over $10B. Mr. Johnson is a coauthor on numerous publications including four New England Journal of Medicine manuscripts. He has a bachelor's degree from Indiana University.

Antony Mattessich has served as a member of our Board of Directors since September 2021. Mr. Mattessich was most recently the chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of Amphista Therapeutics Limited, a position he held from September 2024 to March 2026. Previously, Mr. Mattessich was the chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. (Nasdaq: OCUL) from August 2017 to September 2024, where he launched the company's lead asset and brought its potential blockbuster in Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration from pre-clinical development into active enrollment in Phase 3. Prior to Ocular Therapeutix, Inc., beginning in 2009, he served in roles of increasing responsibility at Mundipharma International, including serving as managing director from May 2011 to August 2017. Prior to Mundipharma International, Mr. Mattessich ran the U.S. respiratory, dermatology and pediatrics group at Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS and NOVN), or Novartis. Before Novartis, Mr. Mattessich held several positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb, among them, managing director roles in Malaysia/Singapore and The Netherlands and head of operations for the International Medicines Group. Mr. Mattessich holds a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University and a B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley.

Sapna Srivastava, Ph.D., has served as a member of our Board of Directors since May 2021. Dr. Srivastava most recently served as the interim chief financial officer at eGenesis, Inc., or eGenesis, a position she held from March 2021 until October 2021. Prior to eGenesis, she held similar roles as the chief financial and strategy officer at Abide Therapeutics, Inc. (acquired by Lundbeck) from September 2017 to January 2019 and at Intellia Therapeutics, Inc., or Intellia, from April 2015 to December 2016. In these positions, she has played a key role in equity financings including a successful initial public offering, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions and shaping the strategic direction of the companies. Before Intellia, Dr. Srivastava spent more than a decade as a senior biotechnology analyst for Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and ThinkEquity Partners. She previously served on the board of directors of VelosBio Inc., Talaris Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly Nasdaq: TALS) and SQZ Biotechnologies Company (formerly Nasdaq: SQZ; OTC: SQZB) and currently serves on the public company boards of directors of Nuvalent, Inc. (Nasdaq: NUVL), and Alumis, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALMS) and previously served on the boards of directors of Tourmaline Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRML) and Innoviva, Inc. (Nasdaq: INVA). Dr. Srivastava holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the New York University School of Medicine and a B.S. in Microbiology from St. Xavier's College at the University of Mumbai.

Amy Elazzouzi has served as our Senior Vice President, Finance since January 2025 and previously served as the Company's Vice President, Finance from January 2020 to January 2025, as well as Corporate Controller from September 2015 to January 2020. Ms. Elazzouzi has also served as our Interim Principal Financial Officer and Interim Principal Accounting Officer and Treasurer since October 2024. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Elazzouzi served as Director of Finance and Operations at KEW Group, Inc. and Controller at AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Ms. Elazzouzi received an MBA from Northeastern University and a bachelor's degree from Regis College. On August 6, 2026, the Board appointed Amy Elazzouzi as the Company's Senior Vice President, Finance, Treasurer and Secretary, effective as of September 2, 2026.

On August 6, 2026, the Board appointed Susan Abu-Absi, Ph.D. as the Company's Chief Operating Officer, effective as of August 10, 2026.Prior to joining the Company, Dr. Abu-Absi served as Chief Operating Officer at Be Biopharma, Inc. from February 2025 to June 2026, where she led the company's operational strategy and execution. Prior to Be Biopharma, Dr. Abu-Absi was Chief Technology Officer at 2seventy bio, Inc. from November 2021 to May 2024, leading technical development, supply and quality. Previously, Dr. Abu-Absi was Senior Vice President, Technical Development & Operations at bluebird bio, Inc. from January 2019 to November 2021, and earlier in her career held senior leadership roles at Bristol Myers Squibb and Bayer Healthcare. Dr. Abu-Absi holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toledo.

On July 3, 2026, the Board of Directors of Aura Biosciences, Inc. appointed Jeremy Bender, Ph.D., M.B.A., as a Class II director, effective July 7, 2026. Dr. Bender most recently served as Chief Executive Officer, President and a member of the board of directors of Day One Biopharmaceuticals, where he led the company through its evolution into a commercial-stage oncology company, including the approval and launch of OJEMDA for pediatric low-grade glioma and the company's approximately $2.5 billion acquisition by Servier in 2026. Prior to joining Day One, he served as Vice President of Corporate Development at Gilead Sciences. Earlier in his career, Dr. Bender held executive leadership positions at Tizona Therapeutics, Sutro Biopharma and Allos Therapeutics, where he led corporate strategy, business development and operational execution. He began his career in the life sciences practice at Boston Consulting Group. Dr. Bender currently serves as an independent member of the board of directors of Mereo BioPharma Group plc. He previously served on the board of directors of Fusion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Dr. Bender earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Stanford University, a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Colorado, and an M.B.A. from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

On April 29, 2026, the Board of Directors appointed Natalie Holles as the Company's Chief Executive Officer and President and as a Class I director effective as of April 30, 2026. Natalie Holles, age 53, is a seasoned industry executive with significant rare disease operational and commercialization experience. From August 2021 to December 2025, Ms. Holles served as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Third Harmonic Bio, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that focused on dermal, respiratory and gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases. From January 2020 through March 2021, Ms. Holles served as President and Chief Executive Officer at Audentes Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on genetic medicines, and prior to that served as their President and Chief Operating Officer beginning in May 2018 and Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer beginning in August 2015. Previously, Ms. Holles served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development at Hyperion Therapeutics, Inc., a rare disease pharmaceutical company, from June 2013 through its acquisition by Horizon Pharma, plc in May 2015. From August 2012 until June 2013, Ms. Holles served as the Executive Vice President, Corporate Development at Immune Design, Inc., an immunotherapy company, and from December 2010 to June 2013, Ms. Holles served as an independent life sciences corporate development consultant. Earlier in her career, Ms. Holles served as the Vice President, Business Development at KAI Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which was acquired by Amgen, Inc. in 2012, and previously held corporate development and commercial roles at InterMune, Inc. (acquired by the Roche Group) and Genentech, Inc. Ms. Holles also has served on the board of directors of Day One Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, since February 2021, and served on the board of directors of Rubius Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from March 2019 to August 2022 and Allakos Inc., a biotechnology company, from December 2020 to July 2021. Ms. Holles holds an A.B. in Human Biology from Stanford University and an M.A. in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where she was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Predoctoral Fellow.

Giovanni Mariggi, Ph.D., has served as a member of our Board of Directors since April 2019. Dr. Mariggi is a member of the co-founding team at Medicxi, having served as a partner since October 2018 and a principal from February 2016 to September 2018. Prior to Medicxi, Dr. Mariggi served in multiple roles at Index Ventures, or Index, over four years, ultimately serving as a principal from January 2015 to January 2016. Prior to joining Index, Dr. Mariggi worked at Cancer Research UK's London Research Institute (now the Crick Institute) conducting research on vascular biology and angiogenesis, whilst also performing competitive intelligence projects as an independent consultant to various biopharma companies. He currently serves on the boards of a number of portfolio companies, including Fore Biotherapeutics US Inc.,Vaderis Therapeutics AG, Curevo Inc. and Vicebio Ltd. Dr. Mariggi holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from University College London and a B.Sc. in Biochemistry from Imperial College London.