Stevenson Search Partners is pleased to announce two recent appointments at Therna Biosciences, reflecting Stevenson’s strong partnership with Therna and shared commitment to building the leadership team needed to advance its programmable RNA platform at this pivotal moment in the company’s growth.
Therna Biosciences is a biotechnology company pioneering programmable RNA medicines. As the company advances its AI-enabled RNA platform and pipeline, these appointments strengthen Therna’s leadership across RNA biology, artificial intelligence, delivery technology, and therapeutic development.
Devyn Smith, Ph.D., has been placed as an Independent Member on the Board of Directors and Ron Philip has been placed as a Strategic Advisor.
Devyn Smith, Ph.D., Independent Member, Board of Directors
Dr. Smith joins Therna’s Board of Directors as an independent member, bringing a combination of scientific depth, operational leadership, and strategic expertise built over a career spanning management consulting, large pharma, and biotechnology. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of Arbor Bio, a clinical-stage gene editing company, and is a longtime board member and former Chairman of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM).
Prior to Arbor Bio, Dr. Smith served as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Strategy at Sigilon Therapeutics, and before that held several senior roles at Pfizer, including Head of Business Operations and Strategy within the Medicinal Sciences Division and Chief Operating Officer of Pfizer’s Neusentis Research Unit in the UK. Earlier in his career, he was a Principal at The Frankel Group, where he led consulting engagements across therapeutic areas including regenerative medicine, gene therapy, and biologics for clients ranging from large pharma to early-stage biotechs.
Dr. Smith received his Ph.D. in Genetics from Harvard Medical School, where his research culminated in 12 publications in leading journals including Cell, Nature, and Development. He also holds an M.S. in Biology from Idaho State University and a B.S. in Zoology from Brigham Young University.
Ron Philip, Strategic Advisor
Ron Philip joins Therna as Strategic Advisor, bringing more than 30 years of experience across biopharma and management consulting with a proven track record of building companies and guiding teams through the development and commercialization of novel therapies. Most recently, Mr. Philip served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Board Member of Orbital Therapeutics until its acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb.
Prior to that, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Spark Therapeutics, where he led the commercial launch of LUXTURNA®, the first approved gene therapy for a genetic disease, and guided the company’s growth as a fully integrated business within the Roche Group. Before joining Spark, Mr. Philip spent a decade at Pfizer and Wyeth in senior leadership roles spanning commercial strategy, business development, and regional operations.
He currently serves as a Board Member for City Therapeutics, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, and Life Sciences Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Drexel University.
About Stevenson Search Partners
Stevenson Search Partners is a global life sciences executive search firm with over 40 years of experience, specializing in building executive teams for biotech, pharma, MedTech, HealthTech, and CRO/CDMO sectors. They offer a range of services including executive search, on-demand talent solutions, board advisory, talent-mapping, and executive coaching, providing tailored solutions to support clients across the life sciences value chain. Stevenson's approach is collaborative and client-centered, focusing on finding leaders who drive innovation in the industry.
