RBL LLC welcomes Devyn Smith to board of directors

Industry veteran brings experience in biotech commercialization and company creation

HOUSTON, April 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RBL LLC, a pioneering biotech venture creation studio dedicated to rapidly building companies based on breakthrough medical technologies from Rice University, announced the appointment of Devyn Smith to its board of directors. Smith, a distinguished biopharmaceutical executive and current CEO of Arbor Biotechnologies, brings extensive experience in regenerative medicine, company formation and commercial strategy that will be instrumental in RBL's mission to accelerate lifesaving therapies from bench to bedside.

"Securing a leader of Devyn's caliber represents a significant milestone for RBL," said Paul Wotton, RBL's managing partner. "Few executives possess his unique blend of scientific credibility and commercial acumen in the regenerative medicine space. As we build multiple companies simultaneously, Devyn's strategic perspective on venture creation and his connections across the biotech ecosystem will be invaluable in helping us identify the most promising opportunities."

"Devyn's reputation in the biotechnology industry speaks for itself," said Omid Veiseh, Rice professor of bioengineering and managing partner of RBL. "His leadership at the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine and his success building advanced therapy companies from concept to clinic aligns perfectly with our vision at RBL. His deep understanding of what it takes to build successful companies will be crucial as we develop our portfolio of Rice technologies into clinical-stage enterprises. Devyn's expertise in securing strategic partnerships and investment will accelerate our ability to bring these groundbreaking therapies to patients worldwide."

"The biotech landscape is evolving rapidly with academia playing an increasingly central role in company creation," Smith said. "What attracted me to RBL is their bold, patient-centered approach that eliminates traditional barriers between academic innovation and clinical impact. Houston is positioned to become the next major biotech hub, and I look forward to leveraging my experience to help RBL capitalize on this momentum and create companies that will fundamentally change how we treat disease."

Smith joined Arbor Biotechnologies as CEO and board member in April 2021. He also serves as a longtime board member and former chairman of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine. Previously, he was chief operations officer and head of strategy at Sigilon Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company. His extensive career includes leadership roles at Pfizer's Medicinal Sciences Division and Neusentis Research Unit, where he was responsible for developing regenerative medicine portfolios and assets for pain and sensory disorders. Smith received his doctorate in genetics from Harvard Medical School, where his research resulted in 12 publications in leading journals such as Cell, Nature and Development. He also holds a Master of Science in biology from Idaho State University and a Bachelor of Science in zoology from Brigham Young University.

About RBL LLC:

RBL LLC is a pioneering biotech venture creation studio based in Houston that is dedicated to accelerating the development of breakthrough medical technologies and therapies through company formation. RBL provides entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators with infrastructure, financial support and strategic guidance as well as access to laboratory space and shared resources in the Texas Medical Center Helix Park. For more information, please visit https://www.rbl-llc.com/.

Media Contact:

Russo Partners
David Schull or Liz Phillips
(347) 956-7697
[email protected]
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SOURCE RBL LLC