David Szekeres

David Szekeres is a seasoned executive with over 20 years in the life sciences industry, with deep operational, commercial, corporate development, strategy, financial, investor relations, and legal experience. Mr. Szekeres has extensive experience in developing and executing biotechnology growth strategies with expertise in corporate strategy, mergers, and acquisitions, partnering on more than $30 billion in biotechnology transactions, and raising more than $2 billion for various companies in the biotechnology sector.

Mr. Szekeres currently serves as president of Connect Biopharma, a global, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies that treat inflammatory diseases.

Previously, Mr. Szekeres was the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Heron Therapeutics, a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel, patient-focused solutions that apply innovative science and technologies for patients suffering from cancer and pain. Prior to that, Mr. Szekeres was the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Business Officer, and General Counsel at Regulus Therapeutics. Prior to Regulus Therapeutics, Mr. Szekeres was the Head of Mergers and Acquisitions at Life Technologies Corporation through its acquisition by Thermo Fisher Scientific for $16 billion.

Mr. Szekeres serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors at GRI Bio, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on inflammatory and autoimmune disease treatment, an executive advisory board member at Colossal Biosciences, a biotechnology and genetic engineering company working to genetically resurrect extinct animal species, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Animantis, a software company focused on artificial intelligence applications to improve drug discovery and development.

Mr. Szekeres received his Juris Doctor degree from Duke University School of Law, and his Bachelor of Administration degree from University of California, Irvine.