Tom Wiggans, RPh, MBA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Wiggans is the CEO of Pardes Biosciences, a company founded in 2020 to cultivate change and help lead the way to a post-pandemic future. Prior to taking on this role at Pardes, Tom was the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dermira (NASDAQ, DERM) a biotechnology company based in Menlo Park California that developed innovative products for skin diseases and dermatology.  Dermira was acquired by Eli Lilly and Co. for $1.1 billion in February 2020.

Prior to founding Dermira in 2010, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Peplin, Inc., a U.S. & Australian biotechnology company developing a product for actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma, which was acquired by LEO Pharma of Copenhagen, Denmark in November 2009 for $275mm.

In 1994 Tom joined Connetics Corporation as the company’s ninth employee and first Chief Executive Officer. During his twelve-year tenure as CEO, Connetics grew from a start up bio-pharmaceutical company to one of the leading dermatology companies in the United States, employing over 400 people, with five marketed products and annual revenues of $200 million. In October of 2006 Connetics was acquired by privately held Stiefel Laboratories of Coral Gables, Florida for $720mm. The combined company became the largest independent dermatology company in the world with global revenues approaching $1 billion.

From 1980 to 1992, Tom served in various marketing and management positions with Ares-Serono Group, a pharmaceutical company based in Geneva, Switzerland, including President of its U.S. pharmaceutical operations and Managing Director of its U.K. pharmaceutical operations. He began his career with Eli Lilly and Co. in 1976.

He was instrumental in the formation of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, and served as a member of the Board of Directors for many years. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Kansas Endowment Association.

He has served on the Boards of numerous public and private companies including Excaliard, Somaxon, Corthera, Sangamo, and Onyx.

He is a native of Fredonia Kansas. He received a BS in Pharmacy from the University of Kansas, and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.