Richard C. Williams has served on our Board since December 2002 and as Chairperson of our Board since July 2004. In 1989, Mr. Williams founded Conner-Thoele Limited, a consulting and financial advisory firm specializing in the healthcare industry and pharmaceutical segment, and since 1989, Mr. Williams has served as President of Conner-Thoele Limited. From 2000 to April 2001, Mr. Williams also served as Vice Chairman-Strategic Planning and director of King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a public company. From 1992 to 2000, Mr. Williams served as Chairman and director of Medco Research, a then-public cardiovascular pharmaceutical development company, prior to its acquisition by King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in 2000. From 1997 to 1999, Mr. Williams was Co-Chairman and a director of Vysis, Inc., a then-public genetic biopharmaceutical company. Prior to founding Conner-Thoele Limited, Mr. Williams held various operational and financial management officer positions with Abbott Laboratories, Erbamont, N.V., and American Hospital Supply Corporation, all of which are public companies and Field Enterprises, Inc., a private company.  Mr. Williams received a B.A. from DePauw University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Finance.
In the past five years, Mr. Williams has served as a member of the boards of directors of Adamis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Cellegy Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and EP Med Systems, all of which are public companies.  Mr. Williams brings to the Board extensive experience in the biotechnology industry, specifically in the area of overall strategy and investor relations, as well as extensive experience in accounting and finance issues, and is an "audit committee financial expert" as defined by the rules of the SEC.