the University of Geneva and his medical degree from the Geneva Medical School, Switzerland. Dr. Fischer’s experience as an executive in the pharmaceutical industry, knowledge of biopharmaceuticals, and his service as our Chief Executive Officer were the primary qualifications that led the Board to conclude that he should serve on our Board.
Patrick Machado Mr. Machado was a co-founder of Medivation, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, and served as its chief business officer from 2009 to 2014 and as its chief financial officer from 2004 until his retirement in 2014. From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Machado worked with ProDuct Health, Inc., a medical device company, as senior vice president, chief financial officer and earlier as general counsel. Upon ProDuct Health’s acquisition by Cytyc Corporation, a diagnostic and medical device company, he served as a consultant to Cytyc to assist with transitional matters from 2001 to 2002. Earlier in his career, Mr. Machado worked for Morrison & Foerster LLP, an international law firm, and for the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Mr. Machado also currently serves on the boards of directors of Arcus Biosciences, Inc., Chimerix, Inc., Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., and several private companies, and previously served on the boards of directors of Axovant Sciences, Inc., Endocyte, Inc., Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corporation (now Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), Medivation, Inc., Principia Biopharma Inc., Roivant Sciences Ltd., SCYNEXIS, Inc. and Turning Point Therapeutics, Inc., Mr. Machado earned a B.A. in German and a B.S. in Economics from Santa Clara University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Mr. Machado has been chosen to serve on our Board due to his extensive experience dealing with the operational and financial issues of biopharmaceutical companies.
James Scopa Mr. Scopa served on the Investment Committee of MPM Capital, a life sciences venture capital firm, and was a Managing Director in MPM Capital's San Francisco office from 2005 to 2017. Previously, Mr. Scopa spent 18 years advising growth companies in biopharmaceuticals and medical devices at Deutsche Banc/Alex. Brown & Sons and Thomas Weisel Partners. At Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown he served as Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Healthcare Investment Banking. Mr. Scopa has been a member of the advisory board and the investment advisory committee of OneVentures, an Australian venture capital firm, since July 2017. From January 2017 to June 2018, he was a fellow at Stanford University in the Distinguished Careers Institute. Mr. Scopa currently serves on the boards of directors of Aligos Therapeutics, Inc. and DICE Therapeutics, Inc. and the privately held biotechnology companies, Blade Therapeutics, Inc. and Neuron23, Inc. Mr. Scopa has previously served on the boards of directors of Semma Therapeutics, Inc. (sold to Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), True North Therapeutics, Inc. (sold to Bioverativ Inc.), Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc., Peplin Inc. (sold to LEO Pharma Inc.), Solasia Pharma K.K. and TriVascular Technologies, Inc. (sold to Endologix, Inc.). Mr. Scopa earned an A.B. from Harvard College, an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Mr. Scopa has been chosen to serve on our Board due to his extensive experience as a venture capital investor in the biotechnology and biopharmaceuticals industries, prior experience as an investment banker in those industries, and his service as a director for numerous companies.
CLASS III DIRECTORS AND CURRENT NOMINEES – To be elected for a three-year term expiring at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Mark Lupher, Ph.D. Dr. Lupher served as vice president of translational pharmacology and preclinical development at Sutro Biopharma, Inc., a publicly traded drug discovery, development and manufacturing company, from February 2016 to March 2020. In June 2013, Dr. Lupher founded VeritasRx Consulting, a consulting firm, and he has served as its president since that time, consulting for venture capital firms and biopharmaceutical companies, including Sutro Biopharma, Inc. from May 2014 to March 2016. Prior to VeritasRx, Dr. Lupher held various roles with Promedior, Inc., where he served as chief scientific officer from June 2010 to June 2013, as senior vice president, discovery research from June 2009 to June 2010 and as vice president, drug discovery from February 2007 to June 2009. Prior to Promedior, Dr. Lupher held various roles with ICOS Corporation from October 1998 to February 2007. Dr. Lupher earned a Ph.D. in immunology from Harvard University and a B.S. in microbiology from the University of Washington. Dr. Lupher has been chosen to serve on our Board due to his drug development experience.
Rabia Gurses Ozden, M.D. Dr. Ozden has served as the chief medical officer at Ocular Therapeutix, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the formulation, development, and commercialization of innovative therapies for diseases and conditions of the eye, since July 2022 and prior to that was Ocular’s senior vice president, clinical development, since January 2021. Dr. Ozden is responsible for leading the clinical development of its current and growing pipeline of indications focusing on the front and back of the eye. Prior to joining Ocular, Dr. Ozden served as the chief development officer at Akouos, Inc., a genetic medicine company,