Typically, it takes more than ten years to successfully move a new drug through the discovery, development and regulatory approval process. This is a major problem not only for the pharmaceutical and biotech companies involved but also for patients desperate for new and better therapies.

Andy Perlman wants to fix that problem through his efforts at CMEA. His role is to help identify promising candidates and take them to market – faster and cheaper.

Perlman has the experience to make it happen. The founding CEO of Innate Immune Inc., which develops therapies for asthma and autoimmune diseases, Perlman brings to CMEA more than 20 years experience in drug development.

He joined CMEA in 2010 to "identify early stage development candidates and move them efficiently through clinical testing with minimal time and money," he said.

Perlman honed his development skills first as senior director of clinical research at Genentech and then at Tularik as executive vice president. In both companies he helped to select promising targets for clinical testing and further development.

When Perlman is not in the office, he is a volunteer and board member for the Ecumenical Hunger Project (EHP), which provides food and aid for families in East Palo Alto, California. "Being involved with EHP reminds me of how privileged I have been and allows me to give back to the community, he said.