Oorja Bio:
Repair.
Reverse.
Remodel.
Redefining the Future of Fibrotic Disease
About Us
Oorja’s goal is to develop groundbreaking therapies for cardiopulmonary and fibrotic disorders that target the underlying pathophysiology of disease.
By addressing key pathways, our medicines promote cellular repair, reverse and or remodel fibrotic tissue, going beyond symptom management to establish a new therapeutic standard of care.
Our Team
Oorja Bio’s leadership team brings deep experience across pulmonary drug innovation, clinical development, commercialization, and company building, with a shared focus on advancing transformative therapies for patients with serious fibrotic diseases.

Sujay Kango
Chief Executive Officer& Founder
Sujay Kango, B.S., MBA
Mr. Sujay Kango is an experienced executive with over 25 years in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector, spanning leadership roles in both public and private companies. He most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Tmunity Therapeutics, which was acquired by Gilead Sciences in February 2023. Previously, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Acceleron Pharma, which was acquired by Merck & Co. for over $11.8 billion.
Mr. Kango has a proven track record in creating shareholder value, leading strategic transactions, licensing agreements, and capital raising in both private and public markets. He has had direct accountability for over $1 billion in product revenues and global P&L and has successfully built collaborations between biotech and large pharmaceutical companies, including Acceleron and BMS, AbbVie and Infinity, and Onyx and Bayer. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions at AbbVie, Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Onyx, and Merck & Co.
He earned a B.S. in Microbiology and an M.B.A. from McNeese State University.

Janethe Pena
Chief Medical Officer & Founder
Janethe de Oliveira Pena, MD, PhD
Dr. Janethe de Oliveira Pena is a clinical development leader with 14 years of experience advancing innovative therapies in rare and serious diseases, including pulmonary hypertension, interstitial lung disease, and systemic sclerosis. She led the high‑profile sotatercept program from early phase 2 through phase 3 studies and 2023 BLA submissions at Merck & Co., following its $11.8 billion acquisition of Acceleron Pharma. Sotatercept was subsequently recognized as the #1 most valuable R&D project of 2023 by Evaluate Pharma.
Dr. de Oliveira Pena has guided programs through complex global regulatory pathways, securing Orphan Drug, Breakthrough Therapy, PRIME, and Priority Review designations, and has managed multidisciplinary teams spanning clinical operations, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, and medical affairs. Earlier in her career, she was an associate professor of immunology at the Federal University of Uberlândia, where she led the graduate program in immunology.
She earned an M.D. from the Federal University of Uberlândia and a Ph.D. from the Federal University of São Paulo, and completed postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard Medical School and Washington University School of Medicine.

Connie Coulomb
Chief Business Officer& Founder
Connie Coulomb, B.S., MBA
Ms. Connie Coulomb brings over 25 years of biopharma leadership, driving transformative business development, licensing, and global commercialization strategies across Merck, Amgen, Biogen, and Onyx Pharmaceuticals. She has spearheaded market expansion and high‑impact growth initiatives, accelerating portfolio performance and market entry worldwide.
Ms. Coulomb played a pivotal role in landmark transactions, including representing RemeGen in its $2.6 billion out‑licensing of disitamab vedotin to Seagen, the largest out‑licensing deal by a Chinese company to date. At Biogen, she served as Divisional Vice President and General Manager, leading a $1.5 billion U.S. multiple sclerosis portfolio, and at Amgen, she directed commercial operations across 35 countries, including the global launch of Repatha in the United States. She has also advised Pfizer, Gilead, Genentech, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, advancing initiatives in global health and market strategy.
She holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and dual advanced degrees in Business Management and Accounting from the University of Buenos Aires, graduating Magna Cum Laude.
News
Press Releases
October 13, 2026
Oorja Bio Announces Initiation of ORBIT-IPF Phase 2 Clinical Trial Evaluating ORJ-001 for the Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
May 19, 2026
Oorja Bio Unveils Clinical Data for ORJ-001, a First-in-Class Therapeutic Targeting Alveolar Epithelial Type 2 (AEC2) Cells for Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
May 19, 2026
Oorja Bio Launches as a Clinical-Stage Company to Develop Groundbreaking Therapies for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Other Fibrotic Diseases
Our Lead Drug Candidate, ORJ-001
ORJ-001 is a first-in-class peptide therapeutic for subcutaneous administration to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) by restoring the function of alveolar epithelial type 2 (AEC2) cells, promoting alveolar repair and reducing the inflammatory and fibrotic signaling that drives pulmonary fibrosis.
Posters at Medical Meetings
American Thoracic Society 2026 International Conference | May 2026
Safety and Tolerability
Results from Phase 1, Randomized, Double-blind, Single and Multiple Ascending Dose Studies Characterizing the PK, Safety and Tolerability of ORJ-001, a Selective β1 Integrin Agonist Peptide in Healthy Volunteers
American Thoracic Society 2026 International Conference | May 2026
Tissue Target Engagement and Tenascin-C Modulation
ORJ-001, a Selective β1 Integrin Agonist Peptide, Has Long Tissue Target Engagement and Lowers Tenascin-C Levels in the Therapeutic Model of Bleomycin-Induced Lung Fibrosis
Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Summit | November 2025
Reduced Fibrosis and Promoted Lung Regeneration
ORJ-001, a novel β1 integrin agonist, reduces fibrosis and induces lung epithelial regeneration in a pulmonary fibrosis model
Contact Us
2450 Holcombe Blvd | Suite 1.320 | Houston, TX 77021


