Dana Andersen, Chief Technical & Manufacturing Officer
Professional Overview
Dana Andersen is an accomplished pharmaceutical executive with over 20 years of experience in technical development, operations, and project management. As the Chief Technical & Manufacturing Officer at Denali Therapeutics, she is responsible for leading the company's global technical and manufacturing strategy to support the advancement of innovative therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases.
Experience Summary
Current Role
As the Chief Technical & Manufacturing Officer at Denali Therapeutics, Ms. Andersen is responsible for overseeing the company's technical development, manufacturing, and quality assurance functions. She leads a team of over 100 scientists and engineers to ensure the seamless scale-up and production of Denali's investigational therapies. Under her leadership, the company has successfully advanced multiple drug candidates through clinical trials and into late-stage development.
Career Progression
Prior to joining Denali, Ms. Andersen served as the Vice President and Global Head of Technical Development Portfolio & Project Management at Genentech. In this role, she was responsible for the oversight and strategic planning of the company's pharmaceutical development pipeline. She also previously held the position of Vice President of Pharmaceutical Development at Genentech, where she led cross-functional teams in advancing multiple biologics and small molecules from early-stage research to commercial launch.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Andersen held the role of Senior Director of Pharmaceutical Development at Genentech, where she made significant contributions to the development and optimization of the company's manufacturing processes. She began her career as a postdoctoral fellow at ETH Zurich, where she conducted research in the field of protein engineering and pharmaceutical formulation.
Academic Background
Ms. Andersen holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with a focus on biopharmaceutical manufacturing and process optimization.
Areas of Expertise
- Pharmaceutical and biologics development
- Technical and manufacturing operations
- Quality assurance and regulatory compliance
- Cross-functional team leadership and project management
- Strategic planning and portfolio management
Professional Impact
Under Ms. Andersen's leadership, Denali Therapeutics has successfully advanced multiple investigational therapies through clinical trials, including several programs that have received breakthrough therapy designation from regulatory authorities. Her expertise in technical development and manufacturing has been instrumental in the company's efforts to bring innovative treatments to patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
Conclusion
With her extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry and proven track record of driving technical and operational excellence, Dana Andersen is well-positioned to continue playing a pivotal role in Denali Therapeutics' mission to develop transformative therapies for patients in need.
