# Michael Farmer

> Michael Farmer is an engineer and longtime company operator whose career moved from classified government technology and management consulting into medical communications, diagnostics startups and drug discovery. He led HandyLab as president and CEO, chaired Akonni Biosystems, and spent 13 years as president and co-CEO of San Francisco-based Prosetta Biosciences before retiring from that role.

- **Role:** Retired former President and Co-CEO of Prosetta Biosciences
- **Organizations:** Prosetta Biosciences, Akonni Biosystems, HandyLab, Veridian, WindRiver Group, Infotronics, American Medical Communications, Age Wave, Hospital Satellite Network, Harbridge House
- **Education:** Engineering degree, Business degree, Executive Leadership Development Program, Aspen Institute
- **Known for:** Led HandyLab as president and CEO during an early financing round that sought $3.5 million and raised $5.5 million., Helped negotiate a 2004 Prosetta license with Chiron that removed prohibitive upfront and annual hepatitis C patent payments in favor of greater downstream royalties., Served as chairman of Akonni Biosystems from 2004 to 2012.

## Career timeline

- **Early career** — Worked as an engineer in classified Department of Defense and intelligence positions involving Navy engineering, communications and computer systems.
- **Later career** — Served as executive vice president of Harbridge House and led its national healthcare and defense practices.
- **Later career** — Served as COO of Hospital Satellite Network and co-founded Age Wave.
- **Later career** — Led Infotronics as president and CEO while also serving as COO of American Medical Communications.
- **Later career** — Worked as managing partner of WindRiver Group and as COO of Veridian.
- **2001-2002** — Served as president and CEO of HandyLab during its early financing and university technology-transfer phase.
- **2004** — Was identified as Prosetta's chief operating officer during negotiations over hepatitis C patent licenses.
- **2004-2012** — Served as chairman of Akonni Biosystems.
- **13-year tenure** — Served as president and co-CEO of Prosetta Biosciences before retiring from the company.

## Achievements

- Led HandyLab as president and CEO during an early financing round that sought $3.5 million and raised $5.5 million.
- Helped negotiate a 2004 Prosetta license with Chiron that removed prohibitive upfront and annual hepatitis C patent payments in favor of greater downstream royalties.
- Served as chairman of Akonni Biosystems from 2004 to 2012.
- Served for 13 years as president and co-CEO of Prosetta Biosciences.
- Co-founded Age Wave.
- Moderated at the Aspen Institute and guest lectured in executive and MBA programs at Harvard, UC Berkeley and the University of Michigan.

## Links

- Website: https://prosetta.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-farmer-047a1013

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/michael-farmer
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-18