Chief Innovation Officer

David Osborne

Dr. Osborne is an accomplished biopharmaceutical scientist and executive with over 25 years of industry-leading experience in topical drug development, translational science, and product formulation. Prior to joining Palvella, he co-founded Arcutis Biotherapeutics (Nasdaq: ARQT) and was the company’s first employee, serving as former Chief Technical Officer and playing a key role in advancing innovative topical therapies for immune-mediated skin diseases, including contributing to the development of ZORYVE® (roflumilast) cream and foam, now FDA-approved for plaque psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis. Earlier in this career, he held senior roles at Dow Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tolmar Inc., and Atrix Laboratories, where he contributed to several FDA-approved therapies, including ACZONE® 5% Gel, METROGEL® 1%, CLOBEX® Spray, DESONATE® Gel, JUBLIA® Solution and ACANYA® Gel. He began his career at The Upjohn Company and Calgon Vestal Laboratories (Merck & Co., Inc.). Dr. Osborne holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Missouri State University and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Missouri University of Science and Technology.

He is also an inventor on 52 U.S. patents and over 200 issued foreign patents in drug delivery and has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Osborne has been recognized for his contributions to pharmaceutical sciences and dermatology, serving in leadership roles in professional organizations such as the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Dermatopharmaceutics Focus Group and the American Chemical Society Division of Colloid and Surface Science, and acting as founding North American Editor for the journal Colloids and Surfaces.