Ramani Varanasi

Managing Director, ReVive Advisory

Ramani is a Senior Biopharma Executive and Entrepreneur with over 25 years of biopharmaceutical industry experience. She is the Managing Director of ReVive Advisors, where she serves as a trusted partner to CEOs and Executive Management and advises on corporate strategy, fundraising, corporate development, and operations. She was a Co-founder and until recently served as the President and CEO of X-Biotix Therapeutics, a biopharma company focused on novel antibiotics to combat the ever-increasing global issue of multi-drug resistance caused by “Superbugs”.

Being attracted to mission-driven initiatives, Ramani has operated with an entrepreneurial vision and passion for launching, building and being part of successful organizations by integrating research and business strategies focused on innovative medicines and solutions having a global impact. Her strong sense of purpose and committed sense of urgency with a results-oriented attitude have been beacons that have supported her through the navigation of her career from a research scientist to her role as a President and CEO. She has held senior positions in Research and Business/Corporate Development including at Merck, Millennium (acquired by Takeda May 2008), Momenta (acquired by J&J Aug 2020), Archemix, and was a Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer at Checkmate Pharmaceuticals (IPO in Aug 2020).

Over the course of her career, she has been involved in the formation of value-driven strategic partnerships with companies and research organizations globally, including in emerging markets such as Asia - and continues to have a keen interest in bridging the research and business gap and fostering collaboration between enterprises in this global marketplace. Her broad experience in the areas of early-stage company formation and financing, including dilutive and non-diluting funding initiatives, has enabled her to execute deals with total value in excess of $5 billion dollars.

Ramani dedicates part of her time to coaching, mentoring, and sponsoring, entrepreneurs and next the generation of biopharmaceutical executives. She further ‘leans in’ by being an active member of several industry organizations and committees. She has been featured in media and print and has participated as an invited speaker, moderator, and panelist at multiple industry conferences on a range of topics including leading through change, corporate strategy & operational execution, strategic partnerships, and integrating DEI initiatives into business practices.

She holds a BSc and MSc from McGill University in Microbiology & Immunology and Biochemistry, respectfully, and an MBA in from Northeastern University. She volunteers as a mentor, thought-partner, and venture advisor to CEO’s and start-up/emerging companies in the biopharma area – and driven by her avid interest in the area of global and international healthcare, serves as a Board member with several non-profit organizations.

As an Indian American (and as a Canadian and native Montrealer), Ramani brings a unique multi-cultural perspective to her role as a biopharma executive, embracing diversity as part of an integrated approach to problem-solving to ensure complete alignment and harmony among leadership.