Anil Goyal

Dr. Goyal is CEO, Co-founder, and Board Director of IMMvention Therapeutix, a VC-backed biotech developing globally accessible therapies for rare and orphan diseases such as sickle cell disease and Friedreich’s ataxia. In 2025, he led IMMvention to a transformative multi-year collaboration with Novo Nordisk, highlighting the company’s pioneering drug discovery approach and North Carolina’s thriving biotech ecosystem.

He has over two decades of leadership, board, and senior management experience at public and private biotech companies, raising $200M+ from investors and federal sources, completing $1.5B+ in pharma deals, and achieving multiple exits. Prior to founding IMMvention in 2017, he was COO at Ribometrix, where he raised its first venture funding. He has also held key roles at MimiVax, Heat Biologics (HTBX), Serenex (exit to Pfizer), Optherion (exit to Sequenom/Baxter), Qualiber, Ascletis (HK public company), and Millennium Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Takeda). His expertise spans small molecules, antibodies, siRNA, gene, and cell therapies across cancer, inflammation, and rare diseases.

Dr. Goyal serves on the boards of IMMvention, Enzerna Biosciences, NCLifeSci.org and OpenDoors Group, a nonprofit he co-founded to enhance workforce development, equity, and representation in biotech. He also mentors and advises through Equalize, NCLifeSci, CED-NC, and OpenDoors, advocating for women and underrepresented communities while strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Triangle.

He earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Rutgers/UMDNJ, conducted postdoctoral training at Merck & Co. and the NJ Center for Agriculture & Environment, and completed executive programs at Harvard Law, Harvard Business, and MIT.

He has lived in North Carolina for 21+ years after earlier years in MA and NJ.