Avalyn Pharma Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on targeted therapies for life-threatening pulmonary diseases, has appointed Lyn Baranowski as chief executive officer. Ms. Baranowski brings more than two decades of experience leading a vast array of functions in biotech, big pharma and venture capital firms.
 

Prior to joining Avalyn, Ms. Baranowski served as chief operating officer at Altavant Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company developing therapies for rare respiratory diseases. Earlier, she served in senior-level corporate development and commercial roles, including vice president of commercial development at Pearl Therapeutics, which successfully developed a portfolio of COPD drugs prior to its sale to AstraZeneca for $1.15 Billion in 2013; and vice president in a healthcare-focused venture capital firm based in New York. She had previously held roles in business development, marketing and public affairs with Novartis Pharmaceuticals in Switzerland and the U.S.
 

“My colleagues and I would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Montgomery, who brought Avalyn’s lead programs successfully into clinical studies. Under his leadership, Avalyn built a strong scientific foundation, from which it will be well positioned to advance its business and clinical development objectives,” stated Niall O’Donnell, chairman of the Avalyn board of directors. “We look forward to working with Ms. Baranowski, whose operational and strategic experience will be of vital importance as we enter this next phase of our evolution.”
 

Ms. Baranowski added, “Throughout my career, I have been driven by a passion to bring new respiratory medicines to patients with serious lung diseases who desperately need them. Avalyn’s portfolio of inhaled products impressed me with its potential to target important pulmonary medicines directly to the site of disease, sparing unnecessary systemic tissue exposure. I am looking forward to working with and building the Avalyn team to advance the company’s exciting clinical stage assets and build out our pipeline.”
 

In addition to her role at Avalyn, Ms. Baranowski serves on the board of directors of Rani Therapeutics, a company developing technology for the oral delivery of biologic drugs, and on the planning committee for the American Thoracic Society’s Respiratory Innovation Summit.