Our mission
To develop and commercialize novel, first-in-class therapeutics that meaningfully improve the lives of patients with kidney and vascular diseases.
Our vision
To become a recognized leader in healthcare innovation and a trusted partner to the kidney and vascular communities.
Our strategy
Seek regulatory approval for vonapanitase and commercialize directly in the United States
Partner vonipanitase outside of the United States
Continue development of vonapanitase for additional indications
Build a pipeline of novel therapeutics in kidney and vascular diseases
Our Leadership Team
At Proteon, we are a high-performing, patient-focused team with a strong track record of bringing important novel therapies to patients. We pride ourselves on cultivating a work environment that fosters collaboration and excellence and we recognize that people are at their best and most productive when they have a rewarding work-life balance.
Timothy Noyes is a veteran biotech leader with deep experience in growing companies and bringing innovative therapies to market. He has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of directors at Proteon since 2006. Prior joining Proteon, he was the Chief Operating Officer of Trine Pharmaceuticals from 2002 to 2006 and held several management positions with GelTex Pharmaceuticals prior to its acquisition by Genzyme. After the acquisition, from 2001 to 2002, he held the positions of President, Renal Division and President, GelTex Pharmaceuticals. Earlier in his career, Tim also spent several years at Merck, serving in multiple roles in its hypertension and heart failure group and managed care division. Tim received his A.B. from Harvard College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Dr. Steven Burke has extensive drug development experience in both kidney and vascular disease and has been the Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Proteon since 2006. Before joining Proteon, he worked as Senior Vice President of Medical and Regulatory Affairs and Vice President of Clinical Research at Genzyme for six years. Steven has also held several positions at GelTex Pharmaceuticals, including Vice President of clinical research and medical director at Glaxo. He received an A.B. from Harvard College and an M.D. from
Cornell University Medical College. His medical residency and fellowship were completed at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and he is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
George Eldridge’s financial background and expertise spans multiple industries, including biotechnology and investment banking. At Proteon, George has served as chief financial officer since 2013. From 2009 to 2013, he served as a consultant to companies in the biotech industry, acting as a Chief Financial Officer and providing advisory services. Prior to that, he held the roles of Chief Financial Officer at Targanta Therapeutics, Therion Biologics, Curis (previously Ontogeny) and Boston Life Sciences. George has also worked as an investment banker at Kidder Peabody. He holds a B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.
Pamela Gustafson joined Proteon in 2006 as the Director of Clinical Research, advanced to Senior Director of Clinical Research in 2012 and became the Vice President of Clinical Research in 2015. She brings a plethora of managerial skills to the leadership team, with over 25 years of experience in the clinical research field. Before joining Proteon, Pamela served as Director of Clinical Operations at Trine Pharmaceuticals. In addition, she has held several managerial positions at AAI International, LeukoSite, PAREXEL International and Alkermes. Pamela earned a B.A. from Wheaton College and an M.P.H. from Boston University. She is also certified as a Project Management Professional.
Meet the Proteon Board of Directors
Paul Hastings has served as a member of our board of directors and its chairman since October 2016. Mr. Hastings is the Chief Executive Officer of Nkarta Inc. Prior to joining Nkarta Inc., Mr. Hastings was CEO and Chairman of Oncomed Pharmaceuticals. Prior to that, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of QLT, Inc. Previous to that, Mr. Hastings served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Axys Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by Celera Corporation in 2001. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Hastings served as the President of Chiron BioPharmaceuticals, a division of Chiron Corporation. Prior to that, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of LXR Biotechnology. Mr. Hastings also held a series of management positions of increasing responsibility at Genzyme Corporation, including serving as President of Genzyme Therapeutics Europe as well as President of Worldwide Therapeutics. Mr. Hastings also served as Vice President, Marketing and Sales and General Manager, Europe for Synergen, Inc., and previously held a series of marketing and sales management positions with Hoffmann-La Roche. Mr. Hastings was Chairman of the Board of Proteolix (sold to Onyx Pharmaceuticals in 2010), and served on the boards of ViaCell (sold to Perkin-Elmer in 2007), Cerimon Pharmaceuticals and Relypsa (sold to Galenica in 2016). He is currently on the board of Pacira Pharmaceuticals, serves as Vice Chairman of Biotechnology Innovation Organization, and is also on the board of directors of the California Life Sciences Association. Mr. Hastings received a B.S. in pharmacy from the University of Rhode Island.
Paul Hastings has served as a member of our board of directors and its chairman since October 2016. Mr. Hastings is the Chief Executive Officer of Nkarta Inc. Prior to joining Nkarta Inc., Mr. Hastings was CEO and Chairman of Oncomed Pharmaceuticals. Prior to that, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of QLT, Inc. Previous to that, Mr. Hastings served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Axys Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by Celera Corporation in 2001. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Hastings served as the President of Chiron BioPharmaceuticals, a division of Chiron Corporation. Prior to that, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of LXR Biotechnology. Mr. Hastings also held a series of management positions of increasing responsibility at Genzyme Corporation, including serving as President of Genzyme Therapeutics Europe as well as President of Worldwide Therapeutics. Mr. Hastings also served as Vice President, Marketing and Sales and General Manager, Europe for Synergen, Inc., and previously held a series of marketing and sales management positions with Hoffmann-La Roche. Mr. Hastings was Chairman of the Board of Proteolix (sold to Onyx Pharmaceuticals in 2010), and served on the boards of ViaCell (sold to Perkin-Elmer in 2007), Cerimon Pharmaceuticals and Relypsa (sold to Galenica in 2016). He is currently on the board of Pacira Pharmaceuticals, serves as Vice Chairman of Biotechnology Innovation Organization, and is also on the board of directors of the California Life Sciences Association. Mr. Hastings received a B.S. in pharmacy from the University of Rhode Island.
Timothy Noyes joined Proteon in 2006 as our President and Chief Executive Officer and has also been a member of our board of directors since joining the company. From 2002 to 2006, Mr. Noyes served as Chief Operating Officer of Trine Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. Before joining Trine, Mr. Noyes held several management positions with GelTex Pharmaceuticals from 1996 to 2001, prior to its acquisition by Genzyme Corporation. After the acquisition, from 2001 to 2002, he held the position of President, Renal Division and President, GelTex Pharmaceuticals. Prior to GelTex, he worked for several years at Merck & Co. across multiple roles in its hypertension and heart failure group and managed care division, and on its Vasotec and Prilosec products. Mr. Noyes received an A.B. from Harvard College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Timothy Noyes joined Proteon in 2006 as our President and Chief Executive Officer and has also been a member of our board of directors since joining the company. From 2002 to 2006, Mr. Noyes served as Chief Operating Officer of Trine Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. Before joining Trine, Mr. Noyes held several management positions with GelTex Pharmaceuticals from 1996 to 2001, prior to its acquisition by Genzyme Corporation. After the acquisition, from 2001 to 2002, he held the position of President, Renal Division and President, GelTex Pharmaceuticals. Prior to GelTex, he worked for several years at Merck & Co. across multiple roles in its hypertension and heart failure group and managed care division, and on its Vasotec and Prilosec products. Mr. Noyes received an A.B. from Harvard College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Hubert Birner, Ph.D., has served as a member of our board of directors since 2007. Dr. Birner is the managing partner of TVM Capital, a venture capital firm, which he joined in 2000. Before joining TVM Capital, Dr. Birner served as Head of Business Development Europe and Director of Marketing for Germany at Zeneca from 1998 to 2000. Dr. Birner joined Zeneca from McKinsey & Company’s European Health Care and Pharmaceutical practice where he worked from 1995 to 1998. From 1992 to 1994, Dr. Birner was an Assistant Professor for biochemistry at the Ludwig-Maximilian-University in Munich. Dr. Birner currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Argos Therapeutics Inc., a publicly traded company, and also serves as Chairman of the Board of Spepharm Holding BV, NOXXON Pharma AG Berlina and leon-nanodrugs, all private companies. Dr. Birner previously served as a member of the board of directors of Horizon Pharma, Evotec AG, Probiodrug AG and BioXell SPA. Dr. Birner received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, where he graduated summa cum laude.
Hubert Birner, Ph.D., has served as a member of our board of directors since 2007. Dr. Birner is the managing partner of TVM Capital, a venture capital firm, which he joined in 2000. Before joining TVM Capital, Dr. Birner served as Head of Business Development Europe and Director of Marketing for Germany at Zeneca from 1998 to 2000. Dr. Birner joined Zeneca from McKinsey & Company’s European Health Care and Pharmaceutical practice where he worked from 1995 to 1998. From 1992 to 1994, Dr. Birner was an Assistant Professor for biochemistry at the Ludwig-Maximilian-University in Munich. Dr. Birner currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Argos Therapeutics Inc., a publicly traded company, and also serves as Chairman of the Board of Spepharm Holding BV, NOXXON Pharma AG Berlina and leon-nanodrugs, all private companies. Dr. Birner previously served as a member of the board of directors of Horizon Pharma, Evotec AG, Probiodrug AG and BioXell SPA. Dr. Birner received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, where he graduated summa cum laude.
Garen Bohlin has served as a member of our board of directors since 2014. Since May 2012, Mr. Bohlin has served as a consultant to various life sciences and healthcare companies. From January 2010 until April 2012, he served as Executive Vice President of Constellation Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company. Prior to joining Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Bohlin served as Chief Operating Officer of Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company, from January 2006 to December 2009. Mr. Bohlin was the founding Chief Executive Officer of Syntonix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from 1999 through December 2005. Earlier in his career, he held multiple executive positions at Genetics Institute, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, and was a partner at Arthur Andersen & Co., a public accounting and consulting organization. Mr. Bohlin currently serves on the board of directors of Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. and Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc., all NASDAQ listed. He also served on the board of directors for Acusphere, Inc. from 2005 to January 2015, Praecis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 2005 to 2007, Targanta Therapeutics from 2007 to 2009, SpringLeaf Therapeutics from 2010 to 2013 and Precision Dermatology from 2012 to 2014. Mr. Bohlin received his B.S. in accounting and finance from The University of Illinois.
Garen Bohlin has served as a member of our board of directors since 2014. Since May 2012, Mr. Bohlin has served as a consultant to various life sciences and healthcare companies. From January 2010 until April 2012, he served as Executive Vice President of Constellation Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company. Prior to joining Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Bohlin served as Chief Operating Officer of Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company, from January 2006 to December 2009. Mr. Bohlin was the founding Chief Executive Officer of Syntonix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from 1999 through December 2005. Earlier in his career, he held multiple executive positions at Genetics Institute, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, and was a partner at Arthur Andersen & Co., a public accounting and consulting organization. Mr. Bohlin currently serves on the board of directors of Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. and Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc., all NASDAQ listed. He also served on the board of directors for Acusphere, Inc. from 2005 to January 2015, Praecis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 2005 to 2007, Targanta Therapeutics from 2007 to 2009, SpringLeaf Therapeutics from 2010 to 2013 and Precision Dermatology from 2012 to 2014. Mr. Bohlin received his B.S. in accounting and finance from The University of Illinois.
John G. Freund, M.D., became a member of our board of directors in 2014. Dr. Freund co-founded Skyline Ventures, a venture capital firm, in 1997, where he has served as a partner since its founding. Prior to founding Skyline, Dr. Freund served as managing director in the private equity group of Chancellor Capital Management from 1995 to 1997. In 1995, he co-founded Intuitive Surgical, Inc. and served on its board of directors until 2000. From 1988 to 1994, Dr. Freund served in various positions at Acuson Corporation, now part of Siemens, most recently as Executive Vice President. Prior to joining Acuson, Dr. Freund was a general partner of Morgan Stanley Venture Partners from 1987 to 1988. From 1982 to 1988, Dr. Freund worked at Morgan Stanley & Co., where he co-founded the Healthcare Group in the Corporate Finance Department. Dr. Freund currently serves as a member of the board of directors of Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He also previously served on the board of directors of four publicly traded companies, Map Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company, Mako Surgical Corp., a medical device company, Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company and was Chairman of XenoPort, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. He also serves on the board of directors of six U.S. registered investment funds managed by affiliates of the Capital Group, Inc. He is a member of the Advisory Board for the Harvard Business School Healthcare Initiative. He received an A.B. in history from Harvard College, an M.D. from Harvard Medical School and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar and won the Loeb Fellowship in Finance.
John G. Freund, M.D., became a member of our board of directors in 2014. Dr. Freund co-founded Skyline Ventures, a venture capital firm, in 1997, where he has served as a partner since its founding. Prior to founding Skyline, Dr. Freund served as managing director in the private equity group of Chancellor Capital Management from 1995 to 1997. In 1995, he co-founded Intuitive Surgical, Inc. and served on its board of directors until 2000. From 1988 to 1994, Dr. Freund served in various positions at Acuson Corporation, now part of Siemens, most recently as Executive Vice President. Prior to joining Acuson, Dr. Freund was a general partner of Morgan Stanley Venture Partners from 1987 to 1988. From 1982 to 1988, Dr. Freund worked at Morgan Stanley & Co., where he co-founded the Healthcare Group in the Corporate Finance Department. Dr. Freund currently serves as a member of the board of directors of Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He also previously served on the board of directors of four publicly traded companies, Map Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company, Mako Surgical Corp., a medical device company, Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company and was Chairman of XenoPort, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. He also serves on the board of directors of six U.S. registered investment funds managed by affiliates of the Capital Group, Inc. He is a member of the Advisory Board for the Harvard Business School Healthcare Initiative. He received an A.B. in history from Harvard College, an M.D. from Harvard Medical School and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar and won the Loeb Fellowship in Finance.
