JEAN-JACQUES BIENAIMÉ
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
Jean-Jacques Bienaimé is chief executive officer of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. He is currently chairman of the board of NeurogesX, Inc., a member of the board of BIO and a member of the advisory board of Bellevue Asset Management’s BioVentures II fund. He joined BioMarin in May 2005 as chief executive officer and member of the board of directors. Prior to that, he served as chairman, chief executive officer and president of Genencor. Before that, he served as chairman, chief executive officer and president of Sangstat Medical Corporation, which he guided to profitability prior to its acquisition by Genzyme Corporation. Earlier in his career, he held several senior management positions at Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Pharmaceuticals (now sanofi-aventis) culminating in the position of senior vice president of worldwide marketing and business development responsible for, among other things, the launch of Lovenox® (for the prevention of pulmonary embolism and treatment of unstable angina) in the United States. He also worked at Genentech, Inc. where he was involved in the launch of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) for the treatment of heart attacks. He received an undergraduate degree in economics from the École Supérieure de Commerce de Paris and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
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JEFFREY BIRD, M.D., Ph.D.
Sutter Hill Ventures
Dr. Jeffrey Bird focuses on healthcare, including biotechnology and medical devices. In addition to Portola, he is currently a board member at AkaRx, Inc. (cancer and hematology therapeutics), Macusight (ophthalmic therapeutics), NuGen Technologies (research reagents), Restoration Robotics (aesthetic surgery devices), Roxro Pharma (pain therapeutics) and Xoft Microtube (cancer radiation devices). He also represents the firm’s investments in Acceleron Pharmaceuticals (metabolic therapeutics) and Barrx (gastrointestinal devices). Dr. Bird was previously senior vice president, business operations at Gilead Sciences, where he worked from 1988 to 1990 and then 1992 to 2000. He received his B.S. from Stanford, a Ph.D. in cancer biology and an M.D. from Stanford Medical School.
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FARAH CHAMPSI
Alta Partners
Farah Champsi is a director at Alta Partners and joined the firm in 2000, prior to the formation of Alta BioPharma II. In addition to Portola, she is currently on the board of directors at Aerovance, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Myocor, Sanarus Medical and Trevena, and serves as the chairperson of the board for Zelos Therapeutics. Ms. Champsi also led Alta’s investment in Agensys. Prior investments include Cytokinetics, Esperion, Orphan Medical and Renovis. She focuses her efforts on biopharmaceutical and medical technology companies. Prior to Alta, she was an investment banker at Robertson Stephens & Company between 1987 and 1999, where she focused on biotechnology and other life sciences companies. She was elected a general partner in 1992 and head of the global life sciences investment banking group in 1995. During that time, she was responsible for building one of the most successful life sciences investment banking franchises on Wall Street. She holds a B.A. in economics from Smith College and an M.B.A. from Stanford University.
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NICHOLAS GALAKATOS, Ph.D.
MPM BioVentures II and BioVentures III, L.L.C.
Dr. Nick Galakatos is a co-founder and managing director of Clarus Ventures. He has been a venture capital investor since 1992, initially at Venrock Associates and then at MPM Capital where he was general partner of the BioVentures II and III funds. From 1997 to 2000 Nick was vice president, new business and a member of the management team at Millennium Pharmaceuticals. During that time he co-founded Millennium Predictive Medicine and TransForm, where he also was the chairman and founding CEO. Dr. Galakatos entered the venture capital business after being head of molecular biology research at Ciba (presently Novartis). He holds a B.A degree in chemistry from Reed College, a Ph.D. degree in organic chemistry from MIT, and performed postdoctoral studies in molecular biology at Harvard Medical School. He is the lead director at Affymax, and a member of the board of directors of Aerovance, Alinea Pharmaceuticals, Aveo Pharmaceuticals and Taligen Therapeutics, in addition to Portola.
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JEAN GEORGE
Advanced Technology Ventures
Jean George is ATV’s East Coast lead partner for healthcare investments and has been with ATV since 2002. She focuses on the life sciences and therapeutic device markets, identifying innovations viable for commercialization. In addition to Portola, Ms. George represents ATV on the boards of Acceleron Pharma, Calithera Biosciences, Five Prime Therapeutics, Hydra Biosciences and Zeltiq Aesthetics. She also was on the boards of Hypnion, prior to its acquisition by Eli Lilly in April 2007; Proteolix, prior to its acquisition by Onyx Pharmaceuticals in November 2009; and Critical Therapeutics prior to its merger with Cornerstone Therapeutics in May 2008. She was featured on the Forbes Midas List and is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. Ms. George has been in the biopharmaceutical industry for over 20 years, including 10 years with Genzyme Corporation, where she held a variety of operational roles in marketing, product development and business development, including vice president of global sales and marketing. She also was vice president and founder of Genzyme's Tissue Repair Division, where she was responsible for identifying new product opportunities and potential acquisition candidates. Ms. George joined BancBoston Ventures in 1998 to lead its life sciences investments. There she led investments in Neurometrix, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (formerly Microbia), NuGenesis Technologies (acquired by Waters) and Syntonix Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Biogen/Idec). Previously, she spent six years working in chemistry and bioresearch. She earned a B.S. from the University of Maine and an M.B.A. from Simmons College Graduate School of Management.
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RUSSELL HIRSCH, M.D., Ph.D.
Prospect Ventures
Dr. Russell Hirsch is a managing director of Prospect Venture Partners. Prior to establishing Prospect Venture Partners II and III, he was a member of the healthcare technology group at Mayfield. He joined Mayfield in 1992, serving as a venture partner from 1993 to 1994 and as a general partner from 1995 to 2000. Dr. Hirsch played a key role in Mayfield's investment activities in the biotechnology and medical device sectors. As an associate, he participated actively in the incubation of Millennium Pharmaceuticals and as a general partner he was responsible for the incubation of Intuitive Surgical Devices, both of which are now publicly traded. Dr. Hirsch holds a B.A. in chemistry from the University of Chicago and an M.D. and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of California, San Francisco.
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CHARLES HOMCY, M.D.
Co-Chairman of the Board
Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Portola Pharmaceuticals
Dr. Charles Homcy is a venture partner at Third Rock Ventures. He co-founded Portola Pharmaceuticals in 2003 and served as president and chief executive officer from that time until April 2010. Prior to that, he was president, research and development at Millennium following Millennium’s acquisition of COR Therapeutics in 2002. Dr. Homcy joined COR in 1995 as executive vice president, research and development, and served as a director of the company from 1998 to 2002. He has been a clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco Medical School, and attending physician at the San Francisco VA Hospital since 1997. He was previously president of the medical research division of American Cyanamid-Lederle Laboratories, a division of Wyeth. Dr. Homcy serves on the board of directors of Geron Corporation. Dr. Homcy received his A.B. and M.D. degrees from Johns Hopkins University.
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WILLIAM LIS
CEO, Portola Pharmaceuticals
Mr. Lis joined Portola in 2008 and was appointed chief executive officer in May 2010. From August 2009 to May 2010 he served as chief operating officer responsible for clinical and pharmaceutical development and corporate development functions. During this time positive phase II trials for elinogrel and betrixaban were completed. Prior to that, as chief business officer, he led the successful execution of worldwide licensing agreements for Portola’s lead development programs. He has over 18 years of experience in biopharmaceutical sales and marketing, corporate development and management of operations. Mr. Lis previously held positions at Scios, Inc. (a Johnson & Johnson Company) from 2003 to 2007 where he served most recently as vice president, business and new product development, responsible for cardiovascular business licensing and commercial operations. He led successful in-licensing activities and commercial launch activities for Xarelto® (rivaroxaban). Prior to joining Scios, he was senior director of marketing and new products for Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (previously COR Therapeutics, Inc.), where he directed marketing activities for Integrilin® (eptifibatide). At Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, he was involved in the U.S. sales launch and commercialization of several products, including Lovenox® (enoxaparin). Mr. Lis holds a B.S. in Finance from the University of Maryland
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PEGGY PHILLIPS
Independent
Peggy Phillips is the former chief operating officer of Immunex, Inc. She served as COO from 1999 until the company was acquired by Amgen in 2002. She was responsible for all development, manufacturing, sales and marketing activities. Prior to becoming COO, Ms. Phillips served as the general manager for Enbrel, overseeing all phases of product development. She was a member of the Immunex board of directors from 1996 to 2002. In addition to Portola, Ms. Phillips serves on the board of directors of Dynavax and the United States Naval Academy Foundation.
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HOLLINGS C. RENTON
Co-Chairman of the Board
Independent
Hollings C. Renton previously served as president and chief executive officer, director and chairman of the board of Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Prior to joining Onyx, he was the president and chief operating officer of Chiron Corporation. He assumed that position on Chiron’s acquisition of Cetus Corporation, where he had been president and chief operating officer and previously served as chief financial officer. In addition to Portola, he currently serves as chairman of the board of Affymax, Inc. and a member of the boards of directors of Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Cepheid Corporation and the Special Olympics of Northern California. Mr. Renton holds a B.S. in mathematics from Colorado State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.
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JAMES TOPPER, M.D., Ph.D.
Frazier Healthcare
Dr. James Topper currently serves as a general partner at Frazier Healthcare, a leading provider of growth equity and venture capital to high-growth and emerging healthcare companies. He joined Frazier Healthcare in 2003 as a venture partner and became a general partner in 2005. While there, he has led multiple biopharma investments, including in Alnara Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by Eli Lilly for initial consideration of $190 million, and Cotherix, which was acquired by Actelion for $420 million. Prior to joining Frazier Healthcare, he served as head of the cardiovascular research and development franchise at Millennium Pharmaceuticals and ran Millennium San Francisco (formerly COR Therapeutics). Prior to the merger of COR and Millennium, Dr. Topper served as the vice president of biology at COR and was responsible for managing all of its research activities. He served on the faculties of Stanford Medical School and Harvard Medical School prior to joining COR, where he functioned as a clinician, instructor and basic investigator. In addition to Portola, he is currently a board member at Amicus Therapeutics, Calistoga Pharmaceuticals, Silence Therapeutics and Anaptys Biosciences. Dr. Topper received his M.D. and Ph.D. in biophysics from Stanford University School of Medicine in 1991 under the auspices of the Medical Scientist Training Program. He completed his postgraduate training in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and is board certified in both disciplines. He also completed a research fellowship in the Vascular Research Division in the Department of Pathology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
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H. WARD WOLFF
Independent
Ward Wolff has served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Sangamo BioSciences since December 2007. Mr. Wolff was formerly with Nuvelo, Inc., where he served as senior vice president, finance and chief financial officer until its restructuring in August 2007. Prior to joining Nuvelo, he was chief financial officer and senior vice president, finance, of Abgenix, Inc. until April 2006 when Abgenix merged with Amgen Inc. Prior to joining Abgenix, Mr. Wolff held financial management positions in both public and private emerging growth companies, including serving as senior vice president and chief financial officer of DoubleTwist, Inc., a life sciences company integrating genomic information and bioinformatics analysis tools. He began his career with Price Waterhouse, where he held a number of positions as a certified public accountant, including senior audit manager. Mr. Wolff received a B.A. degree in economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an M.B.A. degree from Harvard Business School.