Dr. David J. Bearss is a trendsetting entrepreneur of drug development with over 20 years’ of experience. Not only is David an industry-leading expert in small molecule drug development and genetic model systems for drug discovery, but he also has unique experience in translational research focused on the use of genetic markers to predict drug sensitivity. Over the course of his career, Dr. Bearss has discovered 16 compounds that have had INDs accepted and have moved forward in clinical development. Additionally, David is a founder of eight biotech companies.

Dr. Bearss has made a profound impact on the industry and also in academia. He co-founded Biolexis Therapeutics in November 2021. He has also served as the CSO of Halia Therapeutics since January 2021 and as its CEO since March 2022. Previously, Dr. Bearss served as CEO of Tolero Pharmaceuticals and as CSO of Montigen Pharmaceuticals and SuperGen Inc., where he oversaw early drug discovery and development.

Dr. Bearss was the Founding Co-Director of the Center for Investigational Therapeutics at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. He has held the role of Associate Professor in the Department of Oncological Sciences at the University of Utah as well as Associate Professor of Physiology and Developmental Biology at Brigham Young University. Dave earned a Ph.D. in cellular biology from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.

Hari co-founded Biolexis Therapeutics, Inc., where he serves as Chief Scientific Officer, overseeing the company’s R&D strategy across metabolic, cardiometabolic, oncology, and CNS therapeutic domains. In partnership with Dr. David J. Bearss, he co-developed the proprietary MolecuLern technology platform, which underpins Biolexis’s mission to discover and develop next-generation oral small-molecule therapeutics. Before founding Biolexis, Hari co-founded and led scientific functions at multiple biopharmaceutical ventures, advancing nine drug candidates into Phase I/II clinical evaluation. With more than two decades of experience spanning academia and industry, his career is defined by translational innovation and collaborative discovery. Hari also serves as a scientific advisor and review board member for pharmaceutical organizations and academic institutions. He earned his M.Pharm in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Karnataka and his PhD in Medicinal Chemistry from the Institute of Chemical Technology (formerly UDCT), University of Bombay, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Sunderland, UK, and the University of Arizona Cancer Center under Professor Laurence H. Hurley. He has authored over 100 scientific publications and presentations and is an inventor on numerous issued and pending U.S. and international patents.