Interview: Disease in a dish: a new approach to drug discovery

Abstract

John Walker currently serves as the CEO of iPierian, Inc., a private company focused on the creation of new therapeutics discovered using cellular reprogramming and directed differentiation of patient cells. Previously he has served as the Chairman and CEO of Novacea, Inc., Axys Pharmaceuticals, and its predecessor Arris Pharmaceuticals, Bayhill Therapeutics and Vitaphore Corporation. In addition, he was Chairman and interim CEO of KAI Pharmaceuticals, Centaur Pharmaceuticals and Guava Technologies, and was Chairman of the Board of Signal Pharmaceuticals, Renovis, Inc., Microcide, Inc., Intramed Corporation and BidShift Inc. He started his career at American Hospital Supply Corporation where he eventually served as President of the Hospital Company. J Walker currently serves on the Board of Directors of Affymax, Inc., Evotec and Transcept, Inc. He holds a BA from the State University of New York at Buffalo and is a graduate of the Advanced Executive Program, JL Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.