Management Team
Ronald Martell
President and CEO
Ronald A. Martell joined the Company in January 2012 as President and Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the board. Mr. Martell brings over 30 years of experience in the biotechnology industry including direct commercialization experience. Prior to joining NeurogesX, Mr. Martell was Chief Executive Officer at Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where he served for four years. Mr. Martell’s experience includes Imclone Systems, where over his tenure he held positions of increasing responsibility, led the successful launch and initial commercialization of the oncology drug Erbitux® and served as a member of the deal execution teams that led to major pharmaceutical partnerships. Earlier in his career, Mr. Martell was with Genentech and led the commercial launch of the company’s blockbuster oncology drugs, Rituxan® and Herceptin®, as well as the development of global marketing plans for the oncology product portfolio.
Stephen Ghiglieri
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
Stephen F. Ghiglieri has served as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer since 2010, and has been our Chief Financial Officer since October 2003. From December 2002 to October 2003, Mr. Ghiglieri served as Chief Financial Officer of Hansen Medical, Inc., a medical device company. From March 2000 to April 2002, Mr. Ghiglieri served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of Avolent, Inc., a software company. From July 1999 to 2000, Mr. Ghiglieri served as Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of Andromedia, Inc., a software company. From 1994 to 1999, Mr. Ghiglieri served as Vice President, Finance and Administration, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of Oacis Healthcare Systems, Inc., a healthcare technology company. From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Ghiglieri served as Controller of Oclassen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company. From 1984 to 1992, Mr. Ghiglieri served as an audit manager of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. Mr. Ghiglieri received a B.A. in business administration from California State University, Hayward.
Stephen Peroutka
Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
Since November 2011, Stephen J. Peroutka, MD, PhD has been the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Peroutka is responsible for NeurogesX’ research and development as well as regulatory and medical affairs. Prior to joining the Company, and since 2008, Dr. Peroutka served as Vice President, Scientific Affairs, at PRA, a global clinical research organization. From November 2007 to July 2008, he was Chief Medical Officer at Zogenix, Inc., a pharmaceutical company. From August 2005 to October 2007, Dr. Peroutka held positions of increasing responsibility at Johnson & Johnson, serving most recently as a Medical and Business Strategy Leader, where he was focused on the strategic assessment of pain products in the development pipeline. From 1990 to 2005, he held various positions at Synergia Pharma, Inc.at Deltagen, Collabra Pharma, Spectra Biomedical, Inc. and Genentech, Inc. Dr. Peroutka is a board certified neurologist and, from 1988 to 1990, was Chief, Neurology Service, at the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Hospital. From 1984 to 1990, he was an Assistant Professor of Neurology and Pharmacology at Stanford University. Dr. Peroutka received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, and received his A.B. degree from Cornell University.
Michael Markels
Senior Vice President, Commercial and Business Development
Michael Markels has served as our Senior Vice President, Commercial and Business Development since 2010. From May 2006 until January 2010 he was our Vice President, Commercial Operations and Business Development. Mr. Markels brings 20 years experience in domestic and international sales, strategic marketing and drug development. Most recently, he served as Senior Director of Marketing and Program Executive for Rituxan® at Biogen Idec. Previous to these activities, Mr. Markels was Senior Director, Infectious Disease Business Unit at InterMune® where he was responsible for sales and marketing. From 1990 to 2001, he held a variety of sales and marketing positions for Glaxo Wellcome Inc. where most recently he served as Director, Global Commercial Strategy for Flovent® and Asthma in the United Kingdom. Mr. Markels obtained his B.S. in biology from Colorado State University and his M.B.A. from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.
Russell Kawahata, Ph.D.
Vice President, Pharmaceutical Science
Russell Kawahata recently joined NeurogesX in October 2007 as Vice President of Pharmaceutical Science. Dr. Kawahata brings over two decades of experience in technical development and manufacturing, having supported late stage product development at major pharmaceutical organizations. He previously served as Vice President, Technical Development/Operations at InterMune Corporation from 2003-2007. There, Dr. Kawahata oversaw the development and manufacturing of clinical and commercial products, in addition to heading the analytical & process development, optimization, validation, and clinical packaging and supply chain management. Earlier in his career, he served as the Senior Director of Product Innovation and Pharmaceutical Science at Connetics Corporation from 1997-2001, General Manager at Soltec Research Ltd. from 2001-2002, and previously served as Director of Process Development for Systemix and XOMA Corporations. Dr. Kawahata earned a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Environmental Toxicology from the University of California, Davis and a Bachelors of Science from the University of California, Berkeley.
Susan Rinne
Vice President, Regulatory Affairs
Susan Rinne joined NeurogesX in October 2007 as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs. Ms. Rinne has over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical regulatory affairs arena, with extensive expertise in regulatory operations and product registration for a broad range of therapeutic indications. Prior to joining NeurogesX, Ms. Rinne served as head of Global Labeling, West Coast Regulatory Affairs as part of the Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical R&D Global Regulatory Affairs organization. From 1998 to 2006, Ms. Rinne served as Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, ALZA Corporation, with responsibilities for development, registration and commercial activities. Ms. Rinne held prior roles at ALZA including: Vice President, Regulatory Affairs from 1998 to 2006; Director, Regulatory Affairs, from 1995 to 1998. Previously, she worked in Regulatory Affairs at Syntex Corporation from 1983-1995. Ms. Rinne received a Master of Science in Pharmacology and Toxicology and a Bachelors of Science from the University of California, Davis.