Chris Adams

Dr. Adams has more than 30 years’ experience in the business side of orphan drug development, including business strategy, commercial planning, licensing and mergers and acquisitions always ensuring patient impact drives all aspects of the decision-making process. In 2013, he co-founded Cydan, an orphan drug accelerator focused on improving the lives of patients with rare genetic diseases, where he currently serves as Chief Executive Officer. Together with the Cydan team, Dr. Adams raised more than $200M and co-founded three NewCOs, Vtesse (Niemann-Pick C), Imara (sickle cell) and Tiburio (Neuroendocrine). Prior to Cydan he served as Chief Business Officer of FoldRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., where he played an instrumental role in the development of VYNDAQEL® (tafamidis), which led to its acquisition by Pfizer in 2010. He also served as Senior Vice President of business development for ViaCell Inc., Vice President of business development for Transkaryotic Therapies Inc., and Director of business development for the pharmaceutical division of Ciba-Geigy Limited, in Basel, Switzerland. Dr. Adams also serves on the Board of Directors of Tiburio Therapeutics. He holds a PhD in organic chemistry and a diploma in organic chemistry and biochemistry from the University of Zurich, and an MBA from INSEAD of Fontainebleau, France.