Biography

Mr. Penner has been a director of Celldex since the merger between Celldex and AVANT Immunotherapeutics in March 2008 and had been a director of AVANT since January 1997. In 2001, he founded Nascent BioScience, a firm engaged in the creation and development of new biotechnology companies, where he is currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. From 1993 to 2001, Mr. Penner was President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Neurogen Corporation. From 1985 to 1993, he was an Executive Vice President of Novo Nordisk A/S, serving from 1988 to 1993 as Executive Vice President for North America and President, Novo Nordisk of North America, and from 1985 to 1988 as the company's Executive Vice President and General Counsel in Denmark. In addition to having served on the board of directors of several public and privately held life science companies, Mr. Penner is currently on the Board of Directors of Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Affinimark Technologies, Neurovail and Aria Neurosciences. He has served as BioScience Advisor to the Governor and the State of Connecticut, Co-Chair of Connecticut United for Research Excellence, Chair of the Connecticut Board of Governors of Higher Education and Chair of the Connecticut Technology Council. Mr. Penner received a B.A. from the University of Virginia, a J.D. from Fordham University and an L.L.M. in International Law from New York University.