About Michael
Dr. Mike Luther is currently the CEO of STRM.BIO a gene therapy start-up focused on use of megakaryocyte vesicles to deliver complex genetic payloads directly to the bone marrow for rare blood diseases.
Mike has over 38 years’ experience as an entrepreneurial drug hunter, in various roles from scientist to executive leadership roles in the biopharmaceutical industry from biotech start-ups to global pharmaceutical companies and CROs. He is also currently the managing partner for BioInnovations, LLC, where he has roles as a board member and consultant for various VCs and start up biotech companies including MassBIO, Bold Therapeutics, Cape Fear Bio, and Bantam Pharmaceuticals. From 2021-23 Mike was the Global Head of Search & Evaluation and Ventures in Business Development for Astellas Pharmaceuticals in support of their drug discovery and development efforts. This included over 12 deals and investments including 2 NewCo spinouts in less than two years.
Before joining Astellas, Mike was the founder and CEO of Bantam Pharmaceutical, a biotech company focused on the clinical development of cancer therapeutics targeting the mitochondrial stress response pathway and targets. He remains an active advisor and member of the board of directors and SAB.
Past roles include, Senior Vice President for Drug Discovery & Development at Curio and founding CEO for the David H. Murdock Research Institute at the North Carolina Research Campus, a public-private partnership created to accelerate bench to market activities in life sciences.
Mike also has had 20+ years in various senior executive roles in the global pharmaceutical industry including Vice President and head of global drug discovery roles at both Merck and GSK. At GSK, he led multiple discovery teams that resulted in the successful launch of 4 novel therapeutics in oncology and metabolic disease as well as initiating the pharmaceutical industry’s initial efforts in precision medicine and drug repositioning.
Mike holds Bachelor of Science degrees from North Carolina State University, a doctorate from St. Louis University School of Medicine, and an MBA from Duke University. He was a Carl Stone Muscular Dystrophy Fellow at The Salk Institute and is the author of over 80 publications and patents.