Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D.

Director

Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D., has served as a member of our Board of Directors since February 2011. 

From June 2011 to January 2014, Dr. Wierenga served as Executive Vice President, Research and Development at Santarus, Inc. From 2006 to 2011, he served as Executive Vice President, Research and Development at Ambit Biosciences Corporation. From 2003 to 2006, he served as Executive Vice President of Research and Development at Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. From 2000 to 2003, Dr. Wierenga served as Chief Executive Officer of Syrrx, Inc. (now part of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company). From 1990 to 2000, he was Senior Vice President of Worldwide Pharmaceutical Sciences, Technologies and Development at Parke-Davis/Warner Lambert (now Pfizer, Inc.). Prior to that, Dr. Wierenga spent 16 years at Upjohn Pharmaceuticals in research and drug discovery roles, most recently as Executive Director of Discovery Research.

Dr. Wierenga has served on the Board of Directors of several companies including XenoPort, Inc. from 2001 until its acquisition by Arbor Pharmaceuticals in 2017, Ocera Therapeutics, Inc. from December 2013 until its acquisition by Mallinckrodt in 2018, Apricus Biosciences, Inc. from 2013 until its acquisition by Seelos in 2018, Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from March 2014 through 2020, Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from September 2014 until its acquisition by Pfizer in 2017, and Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 1996 until its acquisition by Amgen in 2013.  

Dr. Wierenga holds a B.A. from Hope College and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Stanford University. 

Dr. Wierenga currently chairs the Board of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals since 2015 and has been serving on the Board of Directors of Dermata Therapeutics since 2016.