Adrian Adams

Adrian has served as Chairman of Impel’s Board of Directors since January 2020 and as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) since May 2020. Prior to this role, Adrian held the position of CEO of Aralez Pharmaceuticals Inc., a pharmaceutical company that focuses on the development, acquisition and commercialization of cardiovascular, pain and other therapies, and was a member of the Aralez Board of Directors from February 2016 to January 2019. He served in this role with the company’s predecessor, POZEN Inc. from May 2015 to February 2016.

Prior to joining Aralez, Adrian served as CEO and President of Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from December 2011 until its acquisition by Endo International plc in January 2015 for $2.6 billion. Prior to joining Auxilium, from September 2011 until November 2011, Adrian served as Chairman and CEO of Neurologix and President and CEO of Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where he led the company through a strategic acquisition by global pharmaceutical leader Merck & Co., Inc., for $430 million.

Prior to Inspire, Adrian served as President and CEO of Sepracor, Inc., where under his leadership, Sepracor conducted multiple strategic corporate development activities prior to its acquisition by Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co for $2.6 billion. Prior to joining Sepracor, Adrian was President and CEO of Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 2002 until the acquisition of the company by Abbott Laboratories in 2016 for $3.7 billion.

Adrian has also held general management and senior international and national marketing positions at Novartis,  SmithKline Beecham and ICI (now part of AstraZeneca). He also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors at AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Chairman of the Board at Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. Adrian graduated from the Royal Institute of Chemistry at Salford University.