Board of Directors
Our board of directors consists of seasoned pharmaceutical industry executives and venture investors known for their track record of building successful life science companies.
Anthony DiTonno
CEO, NeurogesX
Anthony A. DiTonno joined us as Chief Operating Officer in April 2003, and has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since August 2003. From October 2000 to November 2002,Mr. DiTonno served as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Enteric Medical Technologies, Inc., a medical device company. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. DiTonno served as Chief Executive Officer of LifeSleep Systems, Inc., a medical device company. From 1989 to 1997, Mr. DiTonno held various positions at Oclassen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company, most recently as its Vice President and General Manager. Mr. DiTonno received a B.S. in business administration from St. Joseph’s University and an M.B.A. from Drexel University.
Jean-Jacques Bienaimé
CEO, BioMarin
Jean-Jacques Bienaimé has served as a member of our board of directors since February 2004. Since May 2005, Mr. Bienaimé has served as Chief Executive Officer and director of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company. From November 2002 to April 2005, Mr. Bienaimé served as the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Genencor International, a biotechnology company acquired by Danisco A/S. From June 1998 to October 2002, Mr. Bienaimé was Chief Executive Officer and President of SangStat Medical, a biotechnology company. From October 1992 to May 1998, Mr. Bienaimé held various management positions, most recently as Senior Vice President of Corporate Marketing and Business Development, and Vice President and General Manager of the advanced therapeutic and oncology division of Rhône-Poulenc Rorer Pharmaceuticals (now The Sanofi-Aventis Group), a pharmaceutical company. Mr. Bienaimé received a B.S. in economics from the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Neil Kurtz, M.D.
President and CEO, TorreyPines Therapeutics
Neil M. Kurtz, M.D. has served as a member of our board of directors since January 2006. Since April 2002, Dr. Kurtz has served as President and Chief Executive Officer and director of TorreyPines Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. From September 1999 to April 2002, Dr. Kurtz was President of World-Wide Clinical Trials, a healthcare solutions company. Dr. Kurtz received a B.A. in psychology from New York University and an M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Alix Marduel, M.D.
Alta Partners
Alix Marduel, M.D. has served as a member of our board of directors since June 2000. Since May 1997, Dr. Marduel has been a managing director of Alta Partners, a venture capital firm. From September 1990 to April 1997, Dr. Marduel was a general partner at Sofinnova Ventures, a venture capital firm. Dr. Marduel also serves on the board of directors of Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated, a publicly-held pharmaceutical company. Dr. Marduel received an M.D. from the University of Paris.
Robert Nelsen
ARCH Ventures
Robert T. Nelsen has served as a member of our board of directors since July 2000. Since July 1994, Mr. Nelsen has served as a senior principal of venture capital funds associated with ARCH Venture Partners, a venture capital firm. From April 1987 to July 1994, Mr. Nelsen served as Senior Manager of ARCH Development Partners LLC, a venture capital fund. Mr. Nelsen is also a director of Adolor Corporation, a publicly-held pharmaceutical company. Mr. Nelsen received a B.S. in biology and economics from the University of Puget Sound and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.
Bruce A. Peacock
Venture Partner, SV Life Sciences
Bruce A. Peacock has been a Venture Partner with SV Life Sciences Advisors, LLC since May 2006. Prior to joining SV Life Sciences, Mr. Peacock held senior executive positions with a number of biotechnology, medical device, and service organizations focused on healthcare. Most recently, Mr. Peacock was CEO of The Little Clinic, a start-up medical care services company. Prior to that, Mr. Peacock served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of Adolor Corporation, as President and Chief Executive Officer and director of Orthovita, Inc., as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and a director of Cephalon, Inc., and Senior Vice President and CFO of Centocor, Inc. He currently serves as a member of the board of directors of NeurogesX, a publicly-held biotechnology company, as well as several private biotechnology companies.