Harold Van Wart

Harold Van Wart, Ph.D. has served as a member of the board of directors since March 2007. Dr. Van Wart has served as Chief Executive Officer of CymaBay Therapeutics (formerly Metabolex, Inc.) since 2003, a member of its board of directors since January 2003, and President since April 2001. He served as Chief Operating Officer from December 2002 to January 2003 and Senior Vice President, Research and Development from October 2000 to December 2002. From 1999 to 2000, Dr. Van Wart was vice president and therapy head for arthritis and fibrotic diseases at Roche Biosciences, a division of Syntex (U.S.A.) Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. From 1992 to 1999, he was vice president and director of the institute of biochemistry and cell biology at Syntex (U.S.A.) Inc., a biopharmaceutical company acquired by an affiliate Roche Holding Ltd. in 1994. From 1978 to 1992, Dr. Van Wart served on the faculty of Florida State University. Dr. Van Wart holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University and a B.A. from SUNY Binghamton. He currently serves on the Emerging Companies and Health Section Governing Boards of BIO, as well as on its board of directors. Dr. Van Wart’s extensive leadership experience in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries contributed to the board of directors’ conclusion that he should serve as a director of the company.