Roger Newton ’72, Founder, Executive Chairman & Chief Scientific Officer Esperion Therapeutics, discusses the Biotechnology Industry with students. (March 24, 2015))

Roger Newton, PhD, FAHA, is currently Founder, Executive Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc., and is a fellow of the American Heart Association. Prior to founding Esperion in 2008, Roger was Senior Vice President, Pfizer Global R&D from 2004 to 2008. Previously, Roger was Co-founder, President & CEO of the original Esperion from July 1998 until its acquisition by Pfizer in 2004 for $1.3 B. Prior to founding the original Esperion, Roger was Chairman of the Atherosclerosis Drug Discovery Team at Warner Lambert from 1981 to 1993, during which he co-discovered and was the product champion of Lipitor. From 1994 to 1998, he was a Distinguished Research Fellow, during which time he was actively involved in the preparation of the Lipitor NDA and the eventual worldwide product launch.Roger is a director of a number of life science companies including Juventas Therapeutics, Inc. and Rubicon Genomics, Inc. and is also a member of the Technology Advisory Boards for Arboretum Ventures. In addition, he is also a member of the National Advisory Boards for the Life Science Institute and Cardiovascular Center at the University of Michigan. Roger earned a Ph.D. in Nutrition from the University of California, Davis, an M.S. in Nutritional Biochemistry from the University of Connecticut, and a B.S. in Biology from Lafayette College.