Krishna R. Polu, MD

Krishna is an Operating Partner with Catalys Pacific. He brings more than 20 years of biotech leadership and company-building experience, with a career defined by advancing innovative therapies from first-in-human studies to FDA approval. His work spans operating roles at companies such as Commit Biologics, Equillium, Raptor Pharmaceuticals, CytomX, Affymax, and Amgen, where he helped shape strategy, development, and clinical execution.

Krishna is equally passionate about creating and investing in new biotech ventures. Partnering with Catalys Pacific, he co-created a portfolio of several successful cardiorenal companies—including Mineralys (NASDAQ: MLYS), Pathalys, and Renalys—and continues to advise Abingworth on new company formation. His earlier venture roles include serving as a founding team member and Principal at Red Tree Venture Capital and working as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Frazier Life Sciences, where he later joined the board of the Frazier Lifesciences Acquisition Corporation SPAC that merged with New Amsterdam Pharma (NASDAQ: NAMS).

A physician-scientist by training, Krishna studied Human Biology at Stanford before earning his M.D. from the University of Texas Health Science Center. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Colorado and a nephrology fellowship at Harvard Medical School’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.