David Bearss, PhD

Dr. David J. Bearss is an experienced entrepreneur and drug developer with a consistent and successful track record of drug discovery and development that spans the last 25 years in both academic and pharmaceutical industry settings. Dr. Bearss has discovered 16 compounds that have INDs filed and moved forward in clinical development and he has been a co-founder of several biotech companies. He has published over 80 scientific manuscripts, has over 70 patents issued or pending and has won several awards for his scientific and business achievements. Dr. Bearss is currently the CEO and co-founder of Halia Therapeutics: a clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing new medicines targeting chronic inflammation. Dr. Bearss also serves on several boards. He helped start and is the Senior Managing Director of the Therapeutic Accelerator at the University of Utah working to help University investigators move their programs toward clinical studies or licensing.