Clarus Ventures Adds Kiran Reddy, Robert DeBenedetto, and Lazar Dimitrov to Investment Team

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jan. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarus Ventures, LLC ("Clarus Ventures"), a leading life sciences investment firm, today announced  the appointments of Kiran Reddy, M.D., MBA, and Robert DeBenedetto, CPA, to Venture Partner, and Lazar Dimitrov, Ph.D., to Associate. Dr. Reddy will be based in the firm's Cambridge, Mass., office, and Dr. Dimitrov and Mr. DeBenedetto will be based in Clarus' South San Francisco, Calif., office. 

Dr. Reddy joins Clarus from Biogen's Corporate Strategy team where he focused on strategic transactions.  Prior to Biogen, Dr. Reddy was an Associate Partner at Third Rock Ventures (TRV) and co-founded several startups, including Foundation Medicine and Sage Therapeutics, where he served as Chief Business Officer.  Before TRV, Kiran was at the Lewin Group advising clients on clinical development and commercial strategy. Dr. Reddy holds M.D. and MBA degrees from Georgetown University and is a board-certified neurologist. He also served as a neurology resident at Massachusetts General Hospital and was awarded a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellowship. Dr. Reddy has authored several scientific papers about neuroimmunology and neurodegenerative diseases. As a Venture Partner at Clarus, Dr. Reddy will focus on both new company formation and risk-sharing partnerships with pharmaceutical companies.

"Kiran brings deep expertise and experience in clinical neurology and company formation," said Nicholas Galakatos, a Clarus Managing Director.  "He complements and expands our investment platform across all aspects of our investment activities."

Robert DeBenedetto joins Clarus with over 25 years of global pharmaceutical and life sciences experience, including the management of approximately 100 acquisitions, mergers, licensing and partnering arrangements valued at over $10 billion. He is currently CEO of SFJ Pharmaceuticals, which he founded in January 2009. Prior to founding SFJ, Mr. DeBenedetto was Vice President of Global Business Development at Quintiles Pharmaceuticals investment unit and served as Executive Committee Member, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Corporate Development, and Vice President of Corporate Marketing for Boston Scientific's Japan subsidiary. Mr. DeBenedetto started his professional career as a CPA with Ernest &Young, where he advised some of the world's largest companies.   He earned an MBA from Bentley University and an undergraduate degree in finance and accounting from Northeastern University.

Lazar Dimitrov joins Clarus from Blue Matter Consulting, where he advised clients on their immuno-oncology strategies.  Prior to Blue Matter, Dr. Dimitrov was a scientist at Crystal Bioscience, where he managed the research & development pipeline and new business development. During his post-doctoral training, Dr. Dimitrov worked at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, where he investigated peroxisome biogenesis using genetics, biochemistry and molecular biology.  Additionally he has held positions as a Venture Analyst at Rho Ventures and as an Investment Banker at Merrill Lynch.  Dr. Dimitrov obtained his Ph.D. in Genome Sciences from the University of Washington, where he specialized in the study of mitochondrial biology and aging. He earned a B.A. in Mathematics and Economics with high honors from Dartmouth College.

Clarus Managing Director Kurt Wheeler said, "Bob DeBenedetto provides Clarus with additional experience in funding and developing risk-sharing partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies to bring late stage pharmaceuticals to market.  His expertise strengthens Clarus' ability to structure these unique partnerships.  We are extremely pleased to be working with one of our most successful CEOs more closely in our overall investment process.  We are also pleased to have Lazar bring his strong scientific background to Clarus, which will enable him to make strong contributions to our team."

About Clarus Ventures

Clarus Ventures is a leading global investment firm dedicated to life sciences. Founded in 2005 by a team of accomplished investment and operating professionals, Clarus manages over $1.7 billion and has invested in more than 50 private and public companies in the biotechnology, medical device and diagnostic spaces. In every investment, Clarus employs a hands-on philosophy and adheres to investment principles that are founded on core competencies in drug development, complex partnership structuring and the ability to adapt to an ever-changing investment landscape. Clarus strives to generate outstanding returns for its investors by identifying and financing innovative medicines that improve people's lives. Clarus has offices in Cambridge, MA, and South San Francisco, CA. For more information please visit, www.clarusventures.com.

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SOURCE Clarus Ventures

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