# Dennis Podlesak

> Dennis G. Podlesak is a New York-based company founder, executive, and investor. He is CEO and managing partner of Canaan Partners’ Axceliux LLC, chairman and CEO of Transposon Therapeutics, and an advisory partner at Domain Associates. His career includes leading Peninsula, Cerexa, and Calixa, serving as executive chairman of Corthera, and chairing Syndax since December 2008.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner at Canaan Partners’ Axceliux LLC
- **Organizations:** Canaan Partners’ Axceliux LLC, Transposon Therapeutics, Domain Associates, Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Peninsula Pharmaceuticals, Cerexa, Calixa Therapeutics, Corthera, Tobira Therapeutics, Avanir Pharmaceuticals, RightCare Solutions, Exalys Therapeutics, Novartis, Allergan, SmithKline Beecham
- **Education:** B.A. in Business Administration, Pepperdine University, M.B.A., Pepperdine University, Postgraduate studies; degree not specified, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
- **Known for:** Led Peninsula’s sale to Johnson & Johnson’s Ortho-McNeil subsidiary., Founded and led Cerexa through its acquisition by Forest Laboratories., Founded and led Calixa through its acquisition by Cubist.

## Career timeline

- **1998-2002** — Vice president at Allergan.
- **2003-2004** — Senior vice president and head of a North American business unit at Novartis.
- **2004-2005** — President and CEO of Peninsula; led its sale to Johnson & Johnson’s Ortho-McNeil subsidiary.
- **2005-2007** — Founder and CEO of Cerexa; Forest completed its acquisition on January 10, 2007.
- **2007** — Joined Domain Associates as a partner in November.
- **2008** — Began serving as Syndax chairman in December.
- **2009** — Calixa, where he was founder and CEO, acquired by Cubist.
- **2010** — Novartis completed acquisition of Corthera, where he served as executive chairman, on February 3.
- **2015** — Avanir and RightCare Solutions acquired during his board service.
- **2016** — Tobira, which he chaired, acquired by Allergan.
- **2020** — Named chairman in the July announcement of Exalys’ launch.
- **2020** — Dennis and Gina Podlesak established a permanent history-department endowment at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

## Achievements

- Led Peninsula’s sale to Johnson & Johnson’s Ortho-McNeil subsidiary.
- Founded and led Cerexa through its acquisition by Forest Laboratories.
- Founded and led Calixa through its acquisition by Cubist.
- Served as Corthera’s executive chairman before its acquisition by Novartis.
- Served as Syndax chairman since December 2008.
- Co-established a permanent endowment supporting history faculty and student research at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

## Latest updates

- **2026-02** — Signed a Syndax registration statement as chairman on February 26, 2026.
- **2025-07** — Identified in Moffly Media’s July 30 photo coverage of the New Canaan Mounted Troop gala.

## Links

- Website: https://ir.syndax.com/board-directors/dennis-podlesak
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennis-podlesak-06207412b

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/dennis-podlesak
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-09