Christine D. Baker

Education and Continuous Learning

Christine D. Baker is an experienced executive in the biotech industry with an impressive career spanning over three decades. She began her educational journey at Dartmouth College, where she earned a BA in Chemistry. To complement her scientific background, Christine pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Rutgers University - Newark. Understanding the importance of continuous learning, she later completed executive education and obtained board certification from Harvard University, capped off by a certification from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in April 2024.

Early Career at Schering-Plough

Christine’s career launched at Schering-Plough Research Institute in 1988, where she gained valuable experience in various R&D roles, steadily progressing in responsibility. By 1995, she had advanced to Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Schering Plough, cementing her strategic and leadership skills over the next nine years.

Career at Novartis

Her career path took a significant turn when she joined Novartis in 2004. Starting as US Brand Director for Parkinson's Disease and Antipsychotic Franchises, Christine specialized in marketing, sales, and strategy development. Over nearly 14 years with the company, her responsibilities grew, eventually leading teams in business planning, commercial strategy, and oncology products commercialization. During her tenure at Novartis, she notably led commercial evaluations for Oncology Licensing and M&A deals.

Leadership Roles at EpicentRx and HOOKIPA Pharma Inc.

In 2018, Christine moved on to the role of Chief Business Officer at EpicentRx, where she focused on developing and negotiating out-licensing and collaboration opportunities for clinical-stage oncology assets. The following year, she joined HOOKIPA Pharma Inc., serving initially as the Chief Business Officer and subsequently as the Chief Operating Officer. At HOOKIPA, she played a pivotal role in business development, optimizing business processes, and fundraising to support growth and multiple clinical development programs.

Non-Executive Roles and Current Positions

In addition to her executive roles, Christine also served as a Non-Executive Director at TYME Technologies Inc. in 2022, contributing to the development of cancer metabolism-based therapies.

Currently, Christine is an Executive in Residence at Columbia Technology Ventures, where she mentors entrepreneurs and inventors, helping to translate research innovations from the lab to market. Concurrently, she is the principal at CD Baker Consulting, LLC, where she provides strategic consulting services to biotech start-ups, shaping their corporate strategies, business developments, and product valuations.

Contributions to the Biotech Industry

Christine D. Baker’s career is marked by her significant contributions to the biotech industry, particularly in the fields of oncology, neuroscience, and cardiovascular health. Her leadership abilities, combined with her strategic planning and business development acumen, make her a pivotal figure in fostering innovation and supporting new ventures in biotechnology.