Viking Therapeutics Appoints Charles A. Rowland Jr. to Board of Directors
N DIEGO, July 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Viking Therapeutics, Inc. ("Viking") (NASDAQ: VKTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders, today announced the appointment of Charles A. Rowland Jr. to its board of directors. With more than 30 years of biopharmaceutical industry experience, Mr. Rowland provides Viking with broad expertise spanning financial management and strategic business operations.
Currently a board member and strategic advisor for multiple biotechnology companies, Mr. Rowland was most recently the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the global lupus nephritis market. Prior to his tenure with Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, he served as the vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) of ViroPharma, during which time the company grew into a global biopharmaceutical business with $500 million in annual revenues until it was acquired by Shire plc for $4.2 billion. Before joining ViroPharma, Mr. Rowland was executive vice president and CFO, as well as interim co-CEO, for Endo Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company with $1.3 billion in revenues. He previously held finance and operational positions of increasing responsibility at Biovail Pharmaceuticals, Breakaway Technologies, Pharmacia, Novartis and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
"We are fortunate to add an individual with Mr. Rowland's extensive experience and track record to our board of directors. He has made important contributions to multiple successful drug development and commercialization companies as both a senior executive and board member," said Brian Lian, Ph.D., CEO of Viking. "With our clinical pipeline advancing toward key data readouts, and continued progress with our earlier stage programs, this is an ideal time to supplement our board with another experienced, well-regarded industry voice. We welcome Mr. Rowland and look forward to his contributions to the success of Viking Therapeutics."
Mr. Rowland currently serves as a member of the board of directors for Blueprint Medicines and Nabriva Therapeutics, with previous board appointments including Vitae Pharmaceuticals, BIND Therapeutics, Aurinia Pharmaceuticals and Idenix Pharmaceuticals, among others. He holds an M.B.A. from Rutgers University and a B.S. from Saint Joseph's University.
