Peter D Staple

Mr. Staple has more than 25 years of experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer and a Director of BioSeek, Inc., a pioneer in applying predictive human biology to drug discovery, and as a member of the senior executive team at ALZA Corporation, the leader in applying drug delivery technologies to develop new therapeutics. At ALZA, as Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, he played a central role in partnering transactions, financings and acquisitions, as well as ALZA's merger with Johnson & Johnson. Prior to joining ALZA, Mr. Staple served in senior positions at Cetus and Chiron Corporations, where his responsibilities covered corporate partnering, licensing, mergers and acquisitions, and financings, including transactions involving commercialization of polymerase chain reaction, hepatitis C and HIV screening technologies. Prior to entering the biotechnology industry, Mr. Staple practiced corporate and securities law with Heller Ehrman LLP. Mr. Staple serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Depomed, Inc., and has served multiple terms on the board of visitors at Stanford Law School. He holds B.A. and J.D. degrees from Stanford University.