SAN DIEGO, CA — February 12, 2026 — Leads & Copy —
Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. (Aardvark) (Nasdaq: AARD), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has established Ardia Therapeutics, Inc. (Ardia), as a new wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary.
Ardia will focus on developing a new dermatology pipeline, with DIA-615 as its lead asset. DIA-615 is a potential topical treatment for inflammatory skin diseases, including psoriasis.
Bryan Jones, Ph.D., has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Ardia. He has transitioned from his role as Chief Operating Officer at Aardvark to lead Ardia.
Tien Lee, M.D., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Aardvark, expressed pride in establishing Ardia and appointing Bryan Jones as its leader. He noted Jones’ contributions to Aardvark and his suitability to develop Ardia’s pipeline.
Dr. Jones has over 30 years of experience with biotech and specialty pharmaceutical companies, including roles in product and business development. He has implemented multiple development programs.
Dr. Jones stated he is honored to take on the new role at Ardia and is excited by the potential of DIA-615 and the opportunity to grow Ardia’s dermatology portfolio.
Dr. Jones joined Aardvark in 2021 as Chief Business Officer and became Chief Operating Officer in August 2022. Before Aardvark, he was Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Sollis Therapeutics. He also served as Vice President of Operations at Sorrento Therapeutics. Dr. Jones received his Ph.D. in genetics from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree in biology and biochemistry from Iowa State University.
Ardia Therapeutics is focused on developing DIA-615, a clinic-ready topical drug intended to treat inflammatory skin diseases, including psoriasis. The active ingredient induces specific members of a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family, called TAS2Rs, to downregulate stressed endoplasmic reticulum in inflammatory cells. DIA-615 is designed to localize in the skin and target inflammatory cells that induce the lesions associated with skin diseases.
Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. is focused on developing small-molecule therapeutics designed to suppress hunger for treating Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) and metabolic diseases. Its lead compound, oral ARD-101, is in Phase 3 clinical development for hyperphagia associated with PWS. Aardvark is also developing ARD-201, a fixed-dose combination of ARD-101 with a DPP-4 inhibitor, through two separate Phase 2 trials to address limitations of GLP-1 therapies for obesity and related conditions.
Source: Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc.
