# Dino Dina

> Dr. Dino Dina is a Genoa-born physician-scientist who spent 15 years building Dynavax Technologies as its President and CEO, shepherding the company through the long road toward HEPLISAV-B, a two-dose hepatitis B vaccine whose CpG 1018 adjuvant technology later became a cornerstone of global COVID-19 vaccine programs. Before Dynavax, he built the Vaccine Group at Chiron Corporation and led Chiron Vaccines to the first-ever approval of an adjuvanted influenza vaccine in Italy. Since retiring in 2013, he has poured equal scientific rigor into his Cimarossa estate on Howell Mountain, Napa Valley - 60 mountain acres of vines and 1,200 olive trees named for the Italian phrase meaning 'red hilltop.'

- **Role:** Vineyard Owner at Cimarossa, LLC; Former President & CEO at Dynavax Technologies
- **Organizations:** Dynavax Technologies, Chiron Corporation, Anergis SA, Cimarossa LLC
- **From:** Genoa, Italy
- **Nationality:** Italian-American
- **Education:** MD (Medicine), University of Genoa, Assistant Professorship in Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- **Known for:** Served 15 years as President and CEO of Dynavax Technologies (1997-2013), Established the Vaccine Group at Chiron Corporation (later Novartis), Led Chiron Vaccines to first-ever adjuvanted influenza vaccine approval in Italy

## Career timeline

- **early career** — Grew up on family commercial farm in Genoa, Italy
- **post-MD** — Assistant Professor of Genetics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York
- **1980s-1990s** — Joined Chiron Corporation in San Francisco; established the Vaccine Group
- **1990s** — Served as President of Chiron Vaccines; led first-ever approval of adjuvanted influenza vaccine in Italy
- **1997** — Joined Dynavax Technologies as President and CEO
- **1997** — Purchased 60-acre property on Howell Mountain, Napa Valley; planted 15 acres of vines (Cimarossa)
- **2003** — Cimarossa first vintage released
- **2009** — Winemaker Mia Klein joins Cimarossa
- **2013** — Retired as CEO of Dynavax Technologies after 15-year tenure; remained board member
- **2013** — Appointed to board of directors of Anergis SA (Swiss allergy vaccine company)
- **2014** — Resigned from Dynavax Board of Directors

## Achievements

- Served 15 years as President and CEO of Dynavax Technologies (1997-2013)
- Established the Vaccine Group at Chiron Corporation (later Novartis)
- Led Chiron Vaccines to first-ever adjuvanted influenza vaccine approval in Italy
- Oversaw development of HEPLISAV-B, a two-dose hepatitis B vaccine with CpG 1018 adjuvant (FDA approved in 2017)
- CpG 1018 adjuvant technology developed under his leadership became central to global COVID-19 vaccine programs
- Grew Cimarossa Vineyards from a hobby into a ~1,200-case mountain estate wine operation
- Published a cookbook featuring seasonal family recipes paired with Cimarossa estate wines

## Latest updates

- **2014-10** — Resigned from the Dynavax Technologies Board of Directors
- **2013-12** — Appointed to the Board of Directors of Anergis SA, a Swiss allergy vaccine company
- **2013-05** — Retired as President and CEO of Dynavax Technologies after 15 years; succeeded by Eddie Gray

## Links

- Website: https://www.cimarossa.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dino-dina-28474b63

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/dino-dina
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-17