Adrian Adams

Mr. Adams has served as the chairman of the Talphera Board of Directors since February 2013. Since January 2020, Mr. Adams has also served as chairman of the board of directors of Impel NeuroPharma, Inc., and in May 2020, he took on the additional role of Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Adams has also served as chairman of the board of directors of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc., since December 2018.

From February 2016 to January 2019, Mr. Adams served as Chief Executive Officer of Aralez Pharmaceuticals after the merger between Pozen, Inc., and Tribute Pharmaceuticals Canada, Inc., and served as a member of the board of directors from February 2016 to April 2019. From May 2015 to January 2016, he served as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Pozen, Inc. From December 2011 to January 2015, Mr. Adams served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc. until it was acquired by Endo International plc. in February 2015. Prior to joining Auxilium, from September 2011 until November 2011, he served as chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer of Neurologix, a company focused on the development of multiple innovative gene therapy programs.

Before Neurologix, Mr. Adams served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where he oversaw the commercialization and development of prescription pharmaceutical products and led the company through a strategic acquisition by global pharmaceutical leader Merck & Co., Inc., in May 2011. Prior to Inspire, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sepracor Inc. from December 2006 to February 2010. Under his leadership, Sepracor conducted multiple strategic corporate development activities, including the in-licensing of 7 products and out-licensing deals with 2 major pharmaceutical companies prior to its acquisition by Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co. Prior to joining Sepracor, Mr. Adams was President and Chief Executive Officer of Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc., from 2002 until the acquisition of the company by Abbott Laboratories in December 2006. During his tenure there, he led the transformation of Kos into a fully integrated and profitable pharmaceutical company with annual revenues approaching $1 billion.

Mr. Adams graduated from the Royal Institute of Chemistry at Salford University in the UK.