Life Science Venture Capital · Durham, NC

Providing Leadership for a World of Innovation.

At Pappas Capital, we are dedicated to furthering life science discoveries and bringing groundbreaking solutions to market.

32
Years advancing life science
100+
Companies created, funded & guided
$800M+
Managed & deployed for investors
US · Canada · Asia
Where we invest

Who We Are

Proven Leaders in Advancing Life Science.

For 32 years Pappas Capital has been investing in and building innovative companies developing the next generation of life science products and technologies — investing in life science with the goal of improving the lives of patients, while delivering superior results to investors.

Founded in 1994 in Durham, North Carolina by Art Pappas, formerly a CEO of international operations at Glaxo Holdings plc, the firm backs next-generation life science, biopharma, agriculture, and technology companies.

Pappas Ventures

Creating, guiding, connecting and funding innovative life science companies, from concept to commercialization. The firm’s flagship venture investing practice.

See the portfolio

Specialized Fund Management

Structuring and managing customized investment vehicles to meet the strategic needs of our investors.

  • Chiesi Ventures Fund
  • Asia Innovation Ventures
  • AgTech Initiatives
  • Specialized Holdings

Translational Medicine

Partnering with leading academic institutions to accelerate the development of research discoveries and inventions.

  • Wake Forest Technology Development Program
A Pappas Capital partner advising a portfolio company leadership team in the boardroom

Measured in patients reached, not only returns delivered.

Pappas-backed companies have brought products to market for melanoma, ovarian cancer, and hemophilia — used worldwide to treat tens of thousands of patients.

Together, those products account for billions in revenue — superior results for investors, delivered by improving the lives of patients.

Portfolio Company Impact

29 FDA-approved products, mapped to the patients they reach.

Our portfolio companies don’t just exit — they ship medicine. Explore the products Pappas-backed companies brought to market, placed on the body by the condition each one treats.

Head Throat Shoulder Lungs Chest Heart Spine Liver Stomach Systemic Pelvis Bone Skin
Portfolio Company Impact Hover or tap a region of the body — or any product — to light up the match. 27 FDA-approved products, mapped by the condition each treats.

Head & Brain1 product

ReyvowCoLucid PharmaceuticalsMigraine · Neurology

Throat & Thyroid1 product

CometriqX-Ceptor TherapeuticsMedullary thyroid cancer · Oncology

Shoulder1 product

Rotation MedicalRotation MedicalRotator-cuff repair · Devices & Diagnostics

Lungs & Respiratory2 products

YutrepiaLiquidiaPulmonary arterial hypertension · Cardiovascular
TeflaroCerexaCommunity-acquired pneumonia · Infectious Disease

Heart & Circulation5 products

CardamystMilestone PharmaceuticalsSupraventricular tachycardia · Cardiovascular
Corus CADCardioDxCoronary artery disease · Devices & Diagnostics
NMR LipoProfileLipoScienceCardiovascular risk · Devices & Diagnostics
Us2.aiUs2.aiAI cardiac imaging · Devices & Diagnostics
CrosserFlowCardiaArterial blockage (CTO) · Devices & Diagnostics

Chest2 products

TalzennaLEAD TherapeuticsBreast cancer · Oncology
TyRxTyRxImplantable-device infection · Devices & Diagnostics

Liver1 product

LivmarliMirum PharmaceuticalsAlagille syndrome (cholestasis) · Rare & Genetic

Stomach & Metabolic2 products

VarubiTESAROChemotherapy-induced nausea · Oncology
BelviqArena PharmaceuticalsChronic weight management · Metabolic & GI

Blood & Systemic7 products

AlprolixSyntonix PharmaceuticalsHemophilia B · Rare & Genetic
InrebicTargeGenMyelofibrosis · Oncology
TembexaChimerixSmallpox · Infectious Disease
DoribaxPeninsula PharmaceuticalsBacterial infection · Infectious Disease
MepseviiUltragenyxMPS VII (Sly syndrome) · Rare & Genetic
DojolviUltragenyxLong-chain fatty-acid oxidation disorders · Rare & Genetic
SEEKERBaebiesNewborn screening · Devices & Diagnostics

Spine1 product

NuVasiveNuVasiveSpine surgery · Devices & Diagnostics

Pelvis1 product

ZejulaTESAROOvarian cancer · Oncology

Bone & Skeleton2 products

IlluminOssIlluminOss MedicalOrthopedic bone stabilization · Devices & Diagnostics
TuralioPlexxikonTenosynovial giant-cell tumor · Oncology

Skin1 product

ZelborafPlexxikonMelanoma · Oncology

A selection of the firm’s FDA-approved products, mapped by the primary condition each treats. Product, company, and indication are drawn from the public record; some products were advanced under companies later acquired. Pappas Capital reports 29 FDA-approved products across its portfolio.

The wider portfolio — 100+ companies.

Across the US, Canada, and Asia, created, guided, connected, and funded from concept to commercialization.

  • PlexxikonMelanoma · Exit
  • MiratiOncology · Exit
  • TESAROOvarian Cancer · Exit
  • UltragenyxRare Disease
  • ChimerixAntivirals
  • Arena PharmaceuticalsTherapeutics · Exit
  • LiquidiaPulmonary Hypertension
  • NuVasiveDevices & Diagnostics
  • AchillionTherapeutics · Exit
  • SyndaxOncology
  • Kezar Life SciencesTherapeutics
  • MilestoneCardiology
  • MirumRare Disease
  • CerexaAnti-infectives · Exit
  • CoLucidMigraine · Exit
  • ReneoTherapeutics
  • CyclerionTherapeutics
  • BioAtlaOncology
  • VelosBioOncology · Exit
  • Aktis OncologyOncology · NASDAQ:AKTS
  • CurisOncology
  • 4DMTTherapeutics
  • Tune TherapeuticsTherapeutics
  • Enlaza TherapeuticsTherapeutics
  • AthersysTherapeutics

A selection from 100+ investments · Therapeutics · Devices & Diagnostics · Exits · Active Portfolio

Team

Leadership, Insight, Innovation.

A team of more than 30 investors, operators, physicians, and scientists — supported by seasoned venture partners and a dedicated Scientific Advisory Board.

Art Pappas

Art Pappas, MBA

Founder & Managing Partner

Founded Pappas Capital in 1994 after serving as a CEO of international operations at Glaxo Holdings plc — and has spent the three decades since creating, guiding, connecting, and funding innovative life science companies.

Venture Partners

  • Franz Humer, PhD
  • Barry Myers, MD, PhD, MBA
  • Russel Kaufman, MD
  • Karen LeVert
  • Mike Grey

Scientific Advisory Board

  • Rodolphe Barrangou, PhD
  • Charles Gersbach, PhD
  • Donald McDonnell, PhD
  • Manesh Patel, MD
  • Bruce Sullenger, PhD

In memoriam — Ernie Mario, PhD · Peter Young, MBA

Meet the full team & advisory board

Affiliations & Certifications

BIO — Biotechnology Innovation Organization member North Carolina Biotechnology Center NVCA — National Venture Capital Association member Certified veteran-owned business
Pappas Capital logo — the ascending dot cascade above the pappas capital wordmark

For Entrepreneurs.

Building the next generation of life science products and technologies? From concept to commercialization, we would like to hear from you.

Pappas Capital · Durham, North Carolina

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