Steven D. Ertel

Acceleron Pharma, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company, which engages in the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutics to treat serious and rare diseases. Its product candidates include Luspatercept, designed to patients with chronic anemia associated within a wide range of blood diseases; ACE-083, designed for the treatment of focal muscle disorders; and Sotatercept, designed to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. The company was founded by John L. Knopf and Thomas P. Maniatis on June 13, 2003 and is headquartered in Rahway, NJ.

Genentech, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products for life-threatening medical conditions. It studies various areas including oncology, immunology, neuroscience, ophthalmic diseases, microbial pathogenesis, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and opportunistic areas. The company was founded by Herb W. Boyer and Robert A. Swanson in 1976 and is headquartered in South San Francisco, CA.

Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. discovers, develops and commercializes pharmaceutical products. It focuses on the research, development and commercialization of oncology medicines that provides treatment to cancer patients. The company is also developing a proprietary platform for delivery of anti-cancer drugs directly to tumor cells, known as Hsp90-inhibitor drug conjugates. Synta Pharmaceuticals was founded by Safi R. Bahcall and Lan-Bo Chen in March 2000 and is headquartered in Lexington, MA.

Oxford Bioscience Partners is an Independent Venture Capital firm founded in 1992 by Edmund Martin Olivier, Alan G. Walton and Cornelius T. Ryan. The firm is headquartered in Boston.

VIVUS, Inc. engaged in the development and commercialization of novel therapeutic products. The firm’s products were indicated for the treatment of obese and overweight patients, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and erectile dysfunction. Its products include PANCREAZE, Qsymia, and STENDRA/SPEDRA. The company was founded by Virgil A. Place in April 16, 1991 and it was headquartered in Campbell, CA.