Innovation Night

As a biotech executive and advisor, Denise has led companies to explosive business growth and raised approximately $500 million in capital both privately and publicly, in addition to bringing life-saving veterinary and human therapeutics to market. Denise is President and CEO of Vetmab Biosciences, a veterinary biopharmaceutical company developing monoclonal antibody (or “mAb”) therapeutics for dogs and cats. Prior to founding Vetmab Bio, Denise served as the COO of DTx Pharma, a biotechnology company creating novel RNA-based therapeutics to treat the genetic drivers of disease. To date, Denise is most proud of her tenure as President and COO of Kindred Biosciences, a veterinary biopharmaceutical company she co-founded in 2012, took public in 2013, and sold to Elanco in 2021. Prior to KindredBio, Denise served as President and Founding Partner of SD Scientific, a full-service medical affairs and communications company, and has held management positions at Elan Pharmaceuticals, SkyePharma, Quintiles, and Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation. Denise is a passionate trustee, executive committee member, and Secretary of La Jolla Playhouse. She also serves on the board of several nonprofits and biotech companies, from CONNECT, which helps innovators and entrepreneurs in Southern California by providing access to investors, mentors, and education, to Hilltop Bio, a Boston-based biotech developing regenerative therapies for animals. Denise earned her B.S. from University of California, San Diego in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution and holds an M.B.A. from Keller Graduate School of Management.Denise and her husband, Lon, love spending time with their dogs, as well as enjoying live music and travel. They are passionate supporters of theater, both locally and as Broadway investors.

Mr. Scott is President and CEO of AustinPx, a technology company enhancing the pharmacokinetics of critical medicines.  He is the co-founder and Executive Board Chair of TEGA Therapeutics, a glycobiology company focused on lysosomal storage disorders and recombinant heparan sulfates. He previously was co-founder and President of Pharmatek Laboratories, a contract development and manufacturing company (sold to Catalent Pharma Solutions in 2016). Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President at Active.com (IPO 2011).  Mr. Scott serves on the Board of Avelas, a bioscience company working to create better outcomes for cancer patients with its activatable cell-penetrating peptide technology. He also serves on the board of DTx, a biotechnology company using fatty acid motifs to deliver RNA therapeutics.  He previously served on the board of Zacharon Pharmaceuticals (sold to Biomarin 2014). Mr. Scott has founded or supported multiple spinouts from UC San Diego including Zacharon, TEGA, LipoNexus, Knoubis Bio, Nerio and Augment.  Mr. Scott is immediate past Executive Board Chair of CONNECT, a non-profit organization helping to create and scale innovation companies in San Diego. He serves as Chair of BIOCOM, a non-profit organization supporting the needs of bio/pharma companies in California. Mr. Scott serves on the Medical Research Advisory Committee for the Conrad Prebys Foundation, providing grants to innovative research in the health sciences. At UC San Diego, he serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Division of Biological Sciences. In the community, Mr. Scott is a trustee for the La Jolla Playhouse, a Tony-award winning regional theatre.  And he serves on the board of Outside the Lens, a non-profit providing photography and digital media programs for underserved youth. Mr. Scott earned his B.A. in Biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego. He earned his J.D. from the University of San Diego and is a member of the California Bar.