8th Annual Life Science CEO Forum: Speaker Interview
Michael A. Narachi
President and Chief Executive Officer
Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc.
Michael A. Narachi has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. and a member of the board of directors since March 2009. In 2004, Mr. Narachi retired as an officer and Vice President of Amgen Inc., a leading therapeutics company, where he served as General Manager of Amgen’s Anemia Business from 1999 through 2003. Mr. Narachi joined Amgen in 1984 and held various US and international positions throughout the organization in Research, Product Development, Corporate Strategy, and Business Development. Mr. Narachi has also served as Chairman or Chief Executive Officer for two private biotechnology companies and one publicly traded company. He currently serves on the board of directors of Celladon Corporation and Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., both are publicly traded biotechnology companies. Mr. Narachi received a B.S. in Biology and an M.A. degree in Biology and Genetics from the University of California at Davis. He received an M.B.A. from the Anderson Graduate School of Management at University of California, Los Angeles. Mr. Narachi also currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of PhRMA, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America; and BIO, the Biotechnology Industry Organization.
Michael will be one of the distinguished speakers at the 8th Annual Life Science CEO Forum.
Why is the 8th Annual Life Science CEO Forum important for C-suite executives?
The forum exposes executives to new and different ways of thinking about challenges and opportunities in our industry.
What is one thing you hope to learn or discuss with your peers at the forum?
I hope to discuss how to increase productivity of the enterprise.
What company initiatives are on the horizon for your team in 2017?
A patient centered campaign for commercialization, and a telemedicine pilot.
What do you believe are the 3 biggest factors impacting the life science industry today?
- The challenges of translating the value of our products to acceptable value extraction methods
- Getting patients (versus hcp’s or payers) to become more active in making choices for our products
- Modernizing regulatory frameworks to adapt to 2020’s technology
What are the greatest opportunities for life science companies over the next 5 years?
See numbers 1-3 above. Also, technology advances will still drive tremendous innovation opportunities.
From a leadership standpoint, where do you draw your inspiration?
The desire to make a meaningful impact on major health care issues – to do something bigger than myself.
If you could describe your company in one word, what would that be?
Persistent.
