Imara Inc. announced that Rahul D. Ballal, Ph.D., has joining as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Dr. Ballal comes to Imara with more than fifteen years of life sciences experience and will help drive important expansion as the company's investigational medicine for sickle cell disease, IMR-687, advances through mid- and late-stage clinical trials. Throughout his career, Dr. Ballal has demonstrated a track record of success in business development, strategic partnerships, venture capital, and company financing.

Dr. Ballal will succeed Imara's founder and former President and CEO, James McArthur, Ph.D., who will continue his work helping patients living with sickle cell disease as a member of Imara's Board of Directors. James McArthur, Ph.D., joins board of directors as company expansion accelerates. Dr. Ballal joined Imara from Northern Biologics and Versant Ventures where he was Chief Business Officer and an Entrepreneur-in-Residence, respectively.

At Northern, he built a first-in-class immune-oncology portfolio, led a broad strategic partnership with Celgene, and managed several key functional roles at the executive level.