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Krishna P. Allamneni, Senior Adviser Ventures Accelerated

Helena Strigård & Krishna P. Allamneni

From Veterinary Dreams to Biotech Leadership: A Conversation with Krishna Allamneni

One of the very first C-suite advisors that joined Ventures Accelerated was Krishna Allamneni, Chief Development Officer at Concarlo Therapeutics and a seasoned biotech leader. In this interview, we asked her to talk about her remarkable journey and vision for the future of drug development.

Your path to biotech wasn't traditional—you started aiming for medical school. How did that pivot shape your perspective?

My journey began early with a strong interest in STEM, fostered by my upbringing as the daughter of a pharmacist. Initially, I was studying to enter the medical profession, but after failing to make the cut (top 500 of 33000 entrants), I pivoted to veterinary school and earned my Bachelor's in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry in India. That foundation in animal health actually opened doors to premier translational research institutions in the United States, leading me to pursue my Master's and PhD in pharmacology and toxicology at UC Davis and then a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School. This unconventional path taught me that setbacks can redirect you toward even better opportunities.

You've had some major wins in your career - what stands out most?

One of the most impactful moments was leading the accelerated path for approval of a rare disease therapeutic via submission of an NDA for Defitelio, a life-saving treatment for a rare bone marrow transplant complication. That experience of being able to successfully communicate differentiated mechanism of action at the time of registration really underscored the importance of innovation throughout the drug development lifecycle. More recently, my work at Concarlo Therapeutics has been incredibly fulfilling—we're developing therapies for patients whose tumors have developed resistance to existing treatments, particularly targeting the novel p27 protein.

AI is transforming drug discovery. What excites you most about these developments?

The integration of artificial intelligence in drug discovery is set to transform our industry. AI can enhance the speed, cost-effectiveness, and quality of products in our discovery pipeline, but we need to integrate human intelligence throughout the drug discovery, development, and commmercialization stages. What's particularly exciting is that AI has now identified drug candidates that are entering clinical trials, and it has the power to improve clinical trial outcomes by identifying the right patient for the right clinical trial.

You joined Ventures Accelerated as a senior advisor about six months ago and is already working with several Nordic clients to help them navigate their US market entry and success with Investor Relations. How does being on the inside of the US ecosystem impact your ability to provide support?

Being deeply embedded in the US ecosystem allows me to offer nuanced insights and strategic guidance to Nordic clients looking to enter the US market. Understanding regulatory landscapes, investor expectations, and market dynamics firsthand enables me to tailor our approach effectively, ensuring their success in navigating these complexities.

As mentioned before, you have embraced working with AI in your drug discovery line of work. With Ventures Accelerated’s in-house AI tech platform, what potential do you see in combining AI with personal touch in the VA-format?

Combining AI with a personal touch within Ventures Accelerated's framework holds immense potential. I have already dabbled in AI to enhance efficiency and precision in identifying promising drug candidates and optimizing the pace of drug discovery. However, we do not need to stop there; we can use VA’s personal touch to integrate human expertise, empathy, and strategic insight into every decision and interaction, including business development and aloanced and partnership management, ultimately enhancing client relationships and long-term positive outcomes for patients in a holistic manner. This balance between technological innovation and personalized service is key to driving transformative impact in the biotech industry.