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R.A. Session

Biotech Entrepreneur & Founder

R.A. Session II is a biotech entrepreneur who founded Taysha Gene Therapies in 2019. He served as the company's President and CEO from April 2020 to December 2022.24

Some key points about R.A. Session II:

Professional Background

  • He has nearly 20 years of experience in the life sciences industry, primarily in business development, corporate strategy and finance.4

  • Prior to founding Taysha, he was:

    • Chief Business Officer of the gene therapy subsidiaries of BridgeBio
    • Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Business Development at AveXis4
  • He has also held roles at companies like PTC Therapeutics, Reata Pharmaceuticals, and AstraZeneca.4

Education

  • MBA and MSF from Texas A&M University-Commerce
  • BSBA in Finance from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte45

Taysha Gene Therapies

  • Founded Taysha in 2019 in partnership with UT Southwestern Medical Center to develop gene therapies for central nervous system diseases.12

  • Led the company from stealth mode to IPO in just five months during 2020, raising over $125 million in private funding and then going public.2

  • Focused the company's efforts on therapies for Rett syndrome and giant axonal neuropathy.2

  • Stepped down as CEO in December 2022 but remains on the company's board of directors.23

R.A. Session II is known for his expertise in biopharmaceuticals, M&A, licensing, valuation, strategic planning, and pricing.4 His leadership helped establish Taysha as a notable player in the gene therapy space, though the company faced challenges in 2022 leading to pipeline cuts and leadership changes.26

Highlights

Taysha Gene Therapies Replaces CEO, Appoints R&D Chief
Dec 19 · globalgenes.org
Sean Nolan Replaces RA Session II as CEO of Taysha Gene ...
Sean Nolan Replaces RA Session II as CEO of Taysha Gene ...
Dec 19 · endpts.com
Taysha CEO steps down after patent fights with patient families, job ...
Dec 16 · ir.tayshagtx.com
Taysha Gene Therapies Announces Executive Leadership Changes
Nov 12 · video.pbsnc.org
R.A. Session II, Taysha Gene Therapies | Season 14 - PBS NC Video

Related Questions

What are R.A. Session II's educational background and professional experience before founding Taysha Gene Therapies?
How did R.A. Session II's partnership with UT Southwestern Medical Center come about?
What were the key milestones during R.A. Session II's tenure as CEO of Taysha Gene Therapies?
What challenges did R.A. Session II face while leading Taysha Gene Therapies?
How did the resignation of R.A. Session II impact Taysha Gene Therapies' future plans?
R.A. Session
R.A. Session, photo 1
R.A. Session, photo 2
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Experience

Founder of Taysha Gene Therapies
Chief Business Officer of the gene therapy subsidiaries at BridgeBio (Jan 2019 - Apr 2020), Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Business Development at AveXis (Mar 2017 - Jul 2018), Board Member at Taysha Gene Therapies (Jan 2020 - Mar 2023), Board Member at ReCode Therapeutics (Jul 2018 - Jan 2023), Board Member at Sandhill Therapeutics (Jul 2018 - Jan 2023), Board Member at Lung Therapeutics, Inc. (Dec 2018 - Dec 2020)

Education

Class 19, Fellow (Life Science) at Society of Kauffman Fellows, MBA in Strategic Management & Finance at Texas A&M University-Commerce, MSF in Finance at Texas A&M University-Commerce, BSBA in Finance at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Location

Dallas/Fort Worth Area