David Apelian

David Apelian, MD, PhD, MBA, brings extensive clinical development, research and regulatory experience, spanning more than 20 years in large pharma and biotechnology companies across multiple therapeutic areas, including hepatology, immuno-oncology and rare diseases. Dr Apelian was most recently COO and Executive Medical Officer at Eiger Biopharma, where he was responsible for the strategy and execution of late-stage clinical development programs, including chronic hepatitis D, progeria and post-bariatric hypoglycemia, where he still serves on the board of directors. He also served as Executive VP and Chief Medical Officer of Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a position he held since 2013. He was instrumental in securing an HCV partnership between Achillion and J&J, which resulted in a $225 million equity investment. From 2005 to 2013, Dr Apelian was Chief Medical Officer and subsequently head of all R&D and Regulatory Affairs for the immuno-oncology company GlobeImmune. At Bristol-Myers Squibb, he served as Medical Lead for Baraclude, an antiviral for chronic HBV, through NDA filing. Prior to that, Dr Apelian was Clinical Director in the Department of Hepatology & Gastroenterology at Schering Plough, where he coordinated a supplemental NDA filing for interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin for the treatment of pediatric patients with chronic HCV. Dr Apelian completed his residency training in pediatrics at New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center, and is board-certified in Pediatrics. He received a PhD in Biochemistry from Rutgers University, an MD from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and an MBA from Quinnipiac University. He earned a BA in Biochemistry from Rutgers University.