Kathleen Sereda Glaub

Most recently, Ms. Glaub has been an advisor to a number of biotechnology companies, including directing financing, business development and overall corporate development strategies. She is currently a director for the boards of IO Biotechnology, and executive chair and co-founder for CuraSen Therapeutics. She has previously served as a director for Afferent, Aligos and Codexis, and an advisor to Bailard Healthcare Fund. In 2013, she joined the board of Afferent Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and subsequently, in August 2014, was appointed chief executive officer of the company. Ms. Glaub led the advancement of the company’s lead molecule, AF-219, through a full complement of mid-stage clinical trials in chronic cough and to Phase 3 readiness. She also led the buyout of the company by Merck in 2016 for $1.25 billion, including $500 million upfront. Merck initiated Phase 3 clinical trials of AF-219/MK-7264 in March 2018 and submitted an NDA to FDA in December 2020. Previously, Ms. Glaub co-led Plexxikon Inc. as president for 12 years, until May 2013. In this role, she led the business and financing strategy for the company, including negotiating six partnerships generating over several hundred million in non-equity funding, and the company’s buyout by Daiichi Sankyo for nearly $1 billion cash in 2011. She also was instrumental in Plexxikon’s advancement of multiple novel molecules to the clinic, as well as advancement of ZelborafTM, a targeted treatment for melanoma, along with its companion diagnostic to market approval in 2011. She has over 30 years in executive-level corporate development, financing and company-building experience with technology and innovation-based companies, including as SVP & CFO of Cell Genesys, Treasurer of Genentech, and various finance and treasury roles with Intel Corporation. Ms. Glaub received her MBA from Northwestern University, and her BA from the University of California, Berkeley.