Aura Biosciences Appoints Natalie Holles as CEO
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 04 2026
0mins
Aura Biosciences announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Natalie Holles as CEO and President and member of the Board of Directors, effective April 30, 2026. Holles succeeds Elisabet de los Pinos, Ph.D., the company's founder, who stepped down from her roles as CEO and President and member of the Board of Directors on the same date. Prior to joining Aura, Holles served as CEO of Third Harmonic Bio from August 2021 through December 2025. The company also announced that its Phase 3 CoMpass trial with its investigational candidate belzupacap sarotalocan for the treatment of early choroidal melanoma is nearing enrollment completion. Currently, 86 patients have been enrolled in the study, and more than 25 additional patients have been scheduled or identified for screening through May 2026. With this update, the company reiterates its guidance to enrollment completion by mid-2026 and topline data from the CoMpass trial in the second half of 2027.
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Analyst Views on AURA
Wall Street analysts forecast AURA stock price to rise
4 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 7.650
Low
13.00
Averages
19.33
High
23.00
Current: 7.650
Low
13.00
Averages
19.33
High
23.00
About AURA
Aura Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing precision therapies for solid tumors that aim to preserve organ function. The Company’s lead candidate, bel-sar (AU-011), is in late-stage development for primary choroidal melanoma and in early-stage development in other ocular oncology indications and bladder cancer. It is developing bel-sar as a potential first-line vision-sparing treatment option for early intervention in small choroidal melanoma and/or indeterminate lesions, avoiding the need for radiotherapy and reducing the risk for metastasis for these patients. Bel-sar is a virus-like drug conjugate (VDC) consisting of a human papillomavirus (HPV)-derived virus-like particle (VLP) and a phthalocyanine dye, a light-activated cytotoxic payload. The Company’s platform is designed to enable the targeting of a broad range of solid tumors using VLP, that can be conjugated with drugs or loaded with nucleic acids to create VDCs.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Aura Biosciences Appoints New CEO and Grants Equity Awards
- Executive Appointment: Aura Biosciences appointed Natalie Holles as the new CEO and President on May 19, 2026, aiming to enhance leadership in the precision oncology sector and strengthen its competitive position in the market.
- Equity Award Plan: The inducement equity awards granted to Holles include 2,169,103 non-qualified stock options with an exercise price of $7.39 per share, aligning with Nasdaq listing rules and expected to incentivize executive performance and company growth.
- Restricted Stock Units: Holles received 600,118 restricted stock units (RSUs), which will vest over the next three years, ensuring her long-term commitment to the company and the achievement of strategic objectives.
- Performance Stock Units: The 553,844 performance-based restricted stock units (PRSUs) will vest based on both time and performance conditions, reflecting the company's emphasis on executive performance while motivating Holles to achieve targets over the next six years.
See More
Aura Biosciences Prices Public Offering at $6 per Share
- Public Offering Pricing: Aura Biosciences has priced its public offering at $6 per share for 39.59 million shares, with an expected closing date of May 5, 2026, aiming to raise approximately $260.30 million to bolster its clinical programs.
- Stock Performance: Following the announcement, AURA shares surged to a 52-week high of $8.49, reflecting strong market confidence in the company's growth potential, with a 19.12% increase to $8.35 at Monday's close, indicating positive investor sentiment.
- Pre-Funded Warrants: The company is also offering 3.8 million pre-funded warrants at $5.99999 each, with an exercise price of just $0.00001, which could attract additional investors and enhance the company's financing capabilities.
- Use of Proceeds: Of the estimated $205.10 million from the offering, funds will be allocated to advance clinical programs for early choroidal melanoma and registration activities for the lead drug candidate bel-sar, while the remaining amount will be used to repurchase 6,922,870 shares, showcasing proactive capital management strategies.
See More
Aura Biosciences Prices Public Offering to Raise $260.3 Million
- Offering Size: Aura Biosciences has priced an underwritten public offering of 39.6 million shares at $6.00 each, aiming to raise approximately $260.3 million, reflecting strong market confidence in its growth prospects.
- Use of Proceeds: The company plans to allocate about $205.1 million of the net proceeds to fund clinical programs and related activities, which aims to accelerate its R&D efforts and enhance its competitive position in the biopharmaceutical sector.
- Share Repurchase Plan: The remaining funds will be used to repurchase shares from an existing shareholder, which not only helps to boost earnings per share but may also enhance investor confidence in the company's long-term value.
- Transaction Timeline: The offering is expected to close around May 5, subject to customary conditions, providing investors with a clear timeline that may increase market focus on the company's future developments.
See More
Aura Biosciences Appoints New CEO and Plans Public Offering
- Executive Change: Aura Biosciences has appointed Natalie Holles as CEO and Chair of the Board, succeeding founder Elisabet de los Pinos, who stepped down on the same day; Holles brings extensive experience in rare disease commercialization, which is expected to drive the company's growth.
- Clinical Trial Progress: The ongoing global randomized Phase 3 CoMpass trial is nearing completion of enrollment for Bel-sar (AU-011) in treating early choroidal melanoma, with enrollment expected to finish by mid-2026 and primary endpoints anticipated to be met by the second half of 2027.
- Drug Approval Advances: Bel-sar has received orphan drug designation from the FDA and EMA, along with fast-track designation from the FDA, indicating its potential in melanoma treatment and possibly accelerating market access.
- Public Offering Plans: Aura announced an underwritten public offering of common shares, providing pre-funded warrants to certain investors, and allowing underwriters a 30-day option to purchase an additional 15% of shares at the public offering price, enhancing liquidity.
See More
Aura Biosciences Appoints New CEO Natalie Holles
- Executive Change: Natalie Holles has been appointed CEO and President of Aura Biosciences effective April 30, succeeding founder Elisabet de los Pinos, with this leadership transition aimed at driving strategic transformation and business development.
- Clinical Trial Progress: Aura has enrolled 86 patients in its Phase 3 CoMpass trial, with over 25 additional patients identified, indicating positive momentum in clinical research that could enhance market confidence.
- Future Outlook: The company reiterates its guidance to complete patient enrollment by mid-2026 and expects to release topline data from the CoMpass trial in the second half of 2027, providing investors with clear milestones that may influence future capital inflows.
- Market Reaction: With the new CEO's appointment and the advancement of clinical trials, Aura Biosciences is poised to strengthen its competitive position in the biopharmaceutical sector, potentially attracting greater investor interest in its long-term growth prospects.
See More
Aura Biosciences Launches Public Offering of Common Stock
- Public Offering Announcement: Aura Biosciences has launched a public offering of common stock and pre-funded warrants, aiming to raise funds to support the development of its precision therapies for solid tumors, particularly the lead candidate bel-sar (AU-011) for early choroidal melanoma.
- Underwriter Arrangement: The offering is being managed by Leerink Partners, TD Cowen, and Evercore ISI as joint bookrunning managers, with LifeSci Capital as a bookrunning manager and Citizens Capital Markets as a co-manager, reflecting strong market confidence in Aura.
- Additional Purchase Option: Aura intends to grant underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of common stock, enhancing the offering's flexibility and potential funding size to meet market demand.
- Risk Disclosure: The final terms of the offering will be disclosed in a final prospectus supplement filed with the SEC, and Aura cautions investors that the timing and conditions of the offering are uncertain and may be affected by market fluctuations and other risk factors.
See More
Aura Biosciences Appoints New CEO and Grants Equity Awards
- Executive Appointment: Aura Biosciences appointed Natalie Holles as the new CEO and President on May 19, 2026, aiming to enhance leadership in the precision oncology sector and strengthen its competitive position in the market.
- Equity Award Plan: The inducement equity awards granted to Holles include 2,169,103 non-qualified stock options with an exercise price of $7.39 per share, aligning with Nasdaq listing rules and expected to incentivize executive performance and company growth.
- Restricted Stock Units: Holles received 600,118 restricted stock units (RSUs), which will vest over the next three years, ensuring her long-term commitment to the company and the achievement of strategic objectives.
- Performance Stock Units: The 553,844 performance-based restricted stock units (PRSUs) will vest based on both time and performance conditions, reflecting the company's emphasis on executive performance while motivating Holles to achieve targets over the next six years.
See More
Aura Biosciences Prices Public Offering at $6 per Share
- Public Offering Pricing: Aura Biosciences has priced its public offering at $6 per share for 39.59 million shares, with an expected closing date of May 5, 2026, aiming to raise approximately $260.30 million to bolster its clinical programs.
- Stock Performance: Following the announcement, AURA shares surged to a 52-week high of $8.49, reflecting strong market confidence in the company's growth potential, with a 19.12% increase to $8.35 at Monday's close, indicating positive investor sentiment.
- Pre-Funded Warrants: The company is also offering 3.8 million pre-funded warrants at $5.99999 each, with an exercise price of just $0.00001, which could attract additional investors and enhance the company's financing capabilities.
- Use of Proceeds: Of the estimated $205.10 million from the offering, funds will be allocated to advance clinical programs for early choroidal melanoma and registration activities for the lead drug candidate bel-sar, while the remaining amount will be used to repurchase 6,922,870 shares, showcasing proactive capital management strategies.
See More
Aura Biosciences Prices Public Offering to Raise $260.3 Million
- Offering Size: Aura Biosciences has priced an underwritten public offering of 39.6 million shares at $6.00 each, aiming to raise approximately $260.3 million, reflecting strong market confidence in its growth prospects.
- Use of Proceeds: The company plans to allocate about $205.1 million of the net proceeds to fund clinical programs and related activities, which aims to accelerate its R&D efforts and enhance its competitive position in the biopharmaceutical sector.
- Share Repurchase Plan: The remaining funds will be used to repurchase shares from an existing shareholder, which not only helps to boost earnings per share but may also enhance investor confidence in the company's long-term value.
- Transaction Timeline: The offering is expected to close around May 5, subject to customary conditions, providing investors with a clear timeline that may increase market focus on the company's future developments.
See More
Aura Biosciences Appoints New CEO and Plans Public Offering
- Executive Change: Aura Biosciences has appointed Natalie Holles as CEO and Chair of the Board, succeeding founder Elisabet de los Pinos, who stepped down on the same day; Holles brings extensive experience in rare disease commercialization, which is expected to drive the company's growth.
- Clinical Trial Progress: The ongoing global randomized Phase 3 CoMpass trial is nearing completion of enrollment for Bel-sar (AU-011) in treating early choroidal melanoma, with enrollment expected to finish by mid-2026 and primary endpoints anticipated to be met by the second half of 2027.
- Drug Approval Advances: Bel-sar has received orphan drug designation from the FDA and EMA, along with fast-track designation from the FDA, indicating its potential in melanoma treatment and possibly accelerating market access.
- Public Offering Plans: Aura announced an underwritten public offering of common shares, providing pre-funded warrants to certain investors, and allowing underwriters a 30-day option to purchase an additional 15% of shares at the public offering price, enhancing liquidity.
See More
Aura Biosciences Appoints New CEO Natalie Holles
- Executive Change: Natalie Holles has been appointed CEO and President of Aura Biosciences effective April 30, succeeding founder Elisabet de los Pinos, with this leadership transition aimed at driving strategic transformation and business development.
- Clinical Trial Progress: Aura has enrolled 86 patients in its Phase 3 CoMpass trial, with over 25 additional patients identified, indicating positive momentum in clinical research that could enhance market confidence.
- Future Outlook: The company reiterates its guidance to complete patient enrollment by mid-2026 and expects to release topline data from the CoMpass trial in the second half of 2027, providing investors with clear milestones that may influence future capital inflows.
- Market Reaction: With the new CEO's appointment and the advancement of clinical trials, Aura Biosciences is poised to strengthen its competitive position in the biopharmaceutical sector, potentially attracting greater investor interest in its long-term growth prospects.
See More
Aura Biosciences Launches Public Offering of Common Stock
- Public Offering Announcement: Aura Biosciences has launched a public offering of common stock and pre-funded warrants, aiming to raise funds to support the development of its precision therapies for solid tumors, particularly the lead candidate bel-sar (AU-011) for early choroidal melanoma.
- Underwriter Arrangement: The offering is being managed by Leerink Partners, TD Cowen, and Evercore ISI as joint bookrunning managers, with LifeSci Capital as a bookrunning manager and Citizens Capital Markets as a co-manager, reflecting strong market confidence in Aura.
- Additional Purchase Option: Aura intends to grant underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of common stock, enhancing the offering's flexibility and potential funding size to meet market demand.
- Risk Disclosure: The final terms of the offering will be disclosed in a final prospectus supplement filed with the SEC, and Aura cautions investors that the timing and conditions of the offering are uncertain and may be affected by market fluctuations and other risk factors.
See More
