November 1, 2017


Janis Naeve, Ph.D. joined Amgen in 2005 and is the Managing Director of Amgen Ventures, guiding the fund’s investment in biotechnology companies focused on discovering and developing human therapeutics. From 2002 to 2005, Dr. Naeve was director of Corporate Development at X-Ceptor Therapeutics, acquired by Exelixis. Prior to this, she served as director of Business Development at Aurora Biosciences, leading transactions for the ion channel technology business unit and managing collaborations with Pfizer, Merck, Lilly and Bristol Myers-Squibb. Dr. Naeve holds a Ph.D. in Pathology from University of Southern California and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the California Institute of Technology.

Alex Turner, Ph.D. joined Amgen in 2012 and is a Licensing Director, leading search and evaluation of product opportunities for Amgen’s Neuroscience, Nephrology, and Bone Health therapeutic areas. Prior to Amgen, Dr. Turner was Senior Director of Business Development at Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, leading out-licensing outreach across the company’s pipeline and in-licensing search and evaluation of technologies to accelerate drug discovery. Dr. Turner holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Stanford University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Becky Pferdehirt, Ph.D. joined Amgen in 2016 and is a Senior Manager of Business Development, focusing on licensing of external technology platforms to support Amgen’s R&D. Prior to joining Business Development, Becky was a scientist in Discovery Research at Amgen, focusing on technology development for gene and cell therapies. Dr. Pferdehirt holds a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from U.C. Berkeley and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Genentech.