David F. Hale

David Hale is a co-founder and Director of Neurelis. He is Chairman and CEO of Hale BioPharma Ventures, LLC, a private company focused on the formation and development of biotechnology, specialty pharma, diagnostic, and medical device companies. He also serves as Chairman of 2 public companies—Biocept, Inc., a cancer diagnostic company, and Conatus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a liver disease company—and is on the board of Cassiopea, a dermatology company. He served as Chairman of Santarus, Inc., prior to its sale to Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in 2014; SkinMedica, Inc., prior to its sale to Allergan in 2012; Micromet, Inc., prior to its sale to Amgen Inc. in 2012; Somaxon Pharmaceuticals prior to its sale to Pernix in 2013; and Crisis Medical Systems prior to its sale to Becton-Dickinson in 2015.

Mr. Hale is a serial entrepreneur who has been involved in the formation and development of a number of biomedical companies. He is a co-founder and Chairman of Advantar Laboratories, Inc., Agility Clinical, Inc., MDRejuvena, Inc., Skylit, Inc., Recros Medica, and a co-founder and Managing Member of Dermata Therapeutics, LLC. He is also Chairman of Colorescience, Inc., and Ridge Diagnostics, Inc. He was also a co-founder of Cadence, Evoke, Elevation, and Zogenix.

In 1982, after joining Hybritech, Inc., the first monoclonal antibody company, Mr. Hale served as COO and President, and then Chief Executive Officer when Hybritech was acquired by Eli Lilly and Co. in 1986. From 1987 to 1997 he was Chairman, President, and CEO of Gensia, Inc., which merged with SICOR to become Gensia Sicor, Inc., and was then acquired by Teva Pharmaceuticals. He was a co-founder and Chairman of Viagene, Inc. from 1987 to 1995 when Viagene was acquired by Chiron, Inc. In 1997, he was a co-founder and served as Chairman of LMA North America until its merger with LMA International in 2004. He was President and CEO of Women First HealthCare, Inc., from late 1997 to June 2000, prior to joining CancerVax in October 2000, where he served as President and CEO from 2000 until its merger with Micromet, Inc. in 2006 when he became Chairman.

Prior to joining Hybritech, Mr. Hale was Vice President and General Manager of BBL Microbiology Systems, a division of Becton, Dickinson & Co. from 1971 to 1980, and held various marketing and sales management positions with Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation, a division of Johnson & Johnson, Inc.