David Johnson serves as Chief Operating Officer at Vera Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: VERA), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing transformative therapies for patients with kidney diseases, including its lead candidate atacicept for IgA nephropathy (IgAN). In this role, Johnson oversees all operational aspects of the company, including clinical development, manufacturing, supply chain, and regulatory strategy, playing a pivotal role in advancing Vera's pipeline toward commercialization. With over 25 years of experience in the biotechnology industry, he brings a proven track record of scaling organizations through clinical milestones and successful exits. Prior to joining Vera in 2023, Johnson was Chief Business Officer at Chinook Therapeutics, where he led business development and strategic partnerships until its $3.5 billion acquisition by Novartis in 2023. Before that, he served as Senior Vice President of Business Development at Audentes Therapeutics, contributing to its $3 billion acquisition by Astellas in 2020. His earlier career included progressive leadership roles at BioMarin Pharmaceutical, where he rose to Vice President of Strategic Planning and Operations, driving key product launches and global expansion efforts. Johnson also held positions at Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical and Genentech, honing his expertise in rare disease therapeutics and operational excellence. Johnson's achievements include facilitating multiple blockbuster acquisitions totaling over $6 billion and supporting the approval and launch of several FDA-approved therapies. At Vera, he is instrumental in executing the company's Phase 3 ORIGIN clinical trial for atacicept, positioning the company for potential near-term regulatory submissions and market entry. His strategic vision and operational acumen continue to propel Vera's mission to deliver innovative solutions for unmet needs in nephrology.