Jeffrey Aronin has nearly 20 years of experience developing global biotech and healthcare innovation companies. His expertise in complex science and patient-focused drug development has made him one of the most successful, innovative leaders in the bioscience sector focused on addressing unmet needs for patients suffering from rare diseases. Jeffrey’s role as an entrepreneur and scientific visionary have contributed to the development and approval of nearly a dozen new medicines and technologies and created thousands of jobs.
Jeffrey currently serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Paragon Biosciences, LLC, whose mission is to improve the lives of patients suffering from debilitating diseases by building innovative biotechnology companies that bring important medicines to the market. He has served as chairman of a number of sciences companies, including Paragon Pharmaceuticals, Castle Creek Pharmaceuticals, Harmony Biosciences and Marathon Pharmaceuticals. Previously, Jeffrey served as president and chief executive officer of Ovation Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biopharmaceutical company he founded in 2000 that was acquired by Lundbeck, Inc. in 2009. Jeffrey served as president and chief executive officer of Lundbeck, Inc. during its acquisition and integration of Ovation Pharmaceuticals.
Jeffrey serves on the corporate boards of Discover Financial Services and Castle Creek Pharmaceuticals. He also the founder and co-chairman of MATTER, a biotech incubator, and he serves as a director of the Economic Club of Chicago and on the executive committee of World Business Chicago appointed by Mayor Emanuel. Jeffrey is a Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute and a member of the Commercial Club and a regular lecturer at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Northwestern University Kellogg School of Business.