Lisata adds biopharma finance veteran Jeffrey Farrow to board
Lisata Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:LSTA) announced the appointment of Jeffrey Farrow, an experienced biopharma finance executive, to its board of directors effective October 13, 2026. The appointment fills a newly created seat, expanding the board from seven to eight members, and Farrow will serve on the company's Audit Committee as an independent Class III director under Nasdaq listing rules.
The timing of Farrow's appointment follows Lisata's September 17, 2026 acquisition of Marea Therapeutics, a strategic transaction that brought two drug candidates into the company's pipeline and was accompanied by a $225 million private placement financing. The financing round drew participation from prominent life sciences investors including RA Capital Management, Forbion, Third Rock Ventures, Alpha Wave, Perceptive Advisors, and Sofinnova Investments.
"Jeff has helped take multiple companies from the clinic to approval and commercial launch, and he has led several of them through successful strategic outcomes," said David Mazzo, Lisata's CEO. "As we advance our Phase 2b programs in severe hypertriglyceridemia and acromegaly, his financial discipline and public-company experience will be a tremendous asset to our board."
Track Record of High-Value Acquisitions
Farrow currently serves as chief financial officer and chief strategy officer at Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, a position he assumed in April 2023. His biopharma finance career includes leading three companies through major acquisitions totaling more than $8 billion in combined value.
Most notably, Farrow served as CFO of Global Blood Therapeutics from April 2016 until Pfizer acquired the company for approximately $5.4 billion in December 2022. During his tenure, he was part of the team responsible for the regulatory approval and commercial launch of Oxbryta for the treatment of sickle cell disease.
Prior to that role, Farrow was CFO of ZS Pharma when AstraZeneca acquired it in December 2015 for approximately $2.7 billion. He also served as CFO of Hyperion Therapeutics from 2010 until Horizon Therapeutics acquired it in 2015.
Farrow holds a B.A. in business administration with a concentration in corporate finance from California State University, Fullerton, and is a certified public accountant (inactive). He currently sits on the boards of Clover Biopharmaceuticals and Achieve Life Sciences, where he has chaired the audit committee since May 2026.
Marea Acquisition and Pipeline Development
Lisata's acquisition of Marea Therapeutics brought two key drug candidates into development: MAR001/005 for severe hypertriglyceridemia and MAR002 for acromegaly. MAR001, licensed from Novartis, inhibits the protein ANGPTL4 to treat severe hypertriglyceridemia, a condition characterized by abnormally high levels of lipids in the blood.
The company expects to announce topline Phase 2b data for MAR001 and Phase 2 proof of concept data for MAR002 in the fourth quarter of 2027, with Phase 3 registrational studies planned for both programs. The $225 million financing is intended to fund development of both drug candidates through these clinical milestones.
"I'm pleased to join Lisata's board at an important point in the company's development," Farrow said. "I look forward to working with the board and management team to help build long-term value for patients and stockholders."
