Tamar Howson

Ms Howson has been a member of the transaction team at JSB partners, a partnering consulting firm specializing in the biotechnology industry. Previously, she served as Executive Vice President of Corporate Development for Lexicon Pharmaceuticals. Prior to Lexicon, she served as Senior Vice President of Corporate and Business Development and was a member of the executive committee at Bristol-Myers Squibb. During her tenure there, Ms. Howson was responsible for leading the company's efforts in external alliances, licensing and acquisitions. Earlier, Ms. Howson served as Senior Vice President and Director of Business Development at SmithKline Beecham. She also managed SR One Ltd., the $100 million venture capital fund of SmithKline Beecham. Ms. Howson has served as an independent business consultant and adviser to companies both in the United States and in Europe. She held the position of Vice President, Venture Investments at Johnston Associates, a venture capital firm, and earlier as Director of Worldwide Business Development and Licensing for Squibb Corporation.

Ms. Howson currently serves on the boards of Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:IDIX), a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of human viral diseases, and S*Bio Pte Ltd. She also serves as a consultant to Pitango Venture Fund and is a member of the advisory board to Triana Venture Partners. She previously served on the boards of Ariad Pharmaceuticals, SkyePharma, NPS Pharma, Targacept, and HBA. Ms. Howson received her M.B.A. in finance and international business from Columbia University. Educated as a chemical engineer, she holds a M.S. from the City College of New York and a B.S. from the Technion in Israel.