About
Carlos Paya was previously CEO of Immune Design Corp., an immunotherapy company acquired by Merck & Co. in 2019, and earlier served as President of Elan Pharmaceuticals. He held discovery research and clinical development leadership roles at Eli Lilly, including Global Leader of the diabetes and endocrine franchise, and spent nearly a decade at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester) as Professor of Medicine, Immunology and Pathology and Vice Dean of the clinical investigation program. He began his career as a research scientist at the Institut Pasteur in Paris and holds an MD and PhD from Madrid Medical School (Complutense).
Invests in
Biotech
Experience
- Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.Board Membercurrent2025 — presentBoston, Massachusetts, United States
- IMU BiosciencesBoard Membercurrent2025 — presentLondon Area, United Kingdom
- VaxcyteChairman of the Boardcurrent2022 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- Highlight Therapeutics SLChairperson of the Boardcurrent2020 — presentMadrid, Spain
- AbingworthVenture Partnercurrent2020 — present
- Fluidigm Standard BiotoolsChairman of the Board2017 — 2024San Francisco, California, United States
- MallinkrodtBoard Member2019 — 2022Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
- Immune Design CorpPresident and CEO2011 — 2019Seattle, WA
- Elan PharmaceuticalsPresident2008 — 2011San Francisco Bay Area
- Eli LillyVP2001 — 2008
- Mayo ClinicProfessor of Medicine and Immunology1991 — 2001
Skills & more
Medical Devices3Biopharmaceuticals8GCP4Infectious Diseases18Technology Transfer4Lifesciences9Biotechnology29Neuroscience3Drug Development12Immunology36Regulatory Affairs3Oncology16
+12 more
Clinical DevelopmentClinical ResearchClinical TrialsCardiologyMolecular BiologyNeurologyDrug DiscoveryDiabetesRCTMSINDPharmaceutical IndustryFrom Carlos's professional profile.
Investments
Board seats
FluidigmHighlight TherapeuticsMallinckrodt
Per the firm's website.
Colleagues at Abingworth
Alex Asquith
Counsel at Abingworth
Amit Khasgiwala
Investment Professional at Innovatus Capital Partners
Andrew Sinclair
Managing Director, Head of Publics & Late Stage at Abingworth
Ankur Shah
Vice President, CCD at Abingworth
Anna Slezak
Senior Associate at Abingworth
Bali Muralidhar
Global Head of Life Sciences & CIO at Abingworth
Carlos Paya
Venture Partner at Ysios Capital
Dayle Hogg
Operating Executive at Abingworth
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Carlos Paya?
- Carlos Paya was previously CEO of Immune Design Corp., an immunotherapy company acquired by Merck & Co. in 2019, and earlier served as President of Elan Pharmaceuticals. He held discovery research and clinical development leadership roles at Eli Lilly, including Global Leader of the diabetes and endocrine franchise, and spent nearly a decade at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester) as Professor of Medicine, Immunology and Pathology and Vice Dean of the clinical investigation program. He began his career as a research scientist at the Institut Pasteur in Paris and holds an MD and PhD from Madrid Medical School (Complutense).
- Where does Carlos Paya work?
- Carlos Paya is Venture Partner at Abingworth.
- What does Carlos Paya invest in?
- Carlos Paya invests in Biotech.
- What boards does Carlos Paya sit on?
- Carlos Paya holds tracked board seats at Fluidigm, Highlight Therapeutics, Mallinckrodt.
- Where did Carlos Paya go to school?
- Carlos Paya studied at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business (CEI, Executive Business Education); Institute Pasteur, Paris, France (Postdoctoral training, Viral Immunology); Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (Fellowship, Infectious Diseases and Immunology).
Same school
Also attended The University of Chicago Booth School of Business706
Prashant ShahPartner at Monta Vista CapitalNoorPartner at Clear VenturesTinaInvestments & Portfolio Services Team Member at Clear VenturesKatrin GeyskensExecutive Director at Capricorn Venture PartnersBill PescatelloInvestor at LightbankGlebFounder and Managing Partner at iTech Capital
+ 700 more
Also attended Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine9
René KuijtenInvestor at LSP (Life Sciences Partners)René R. KuijtenInvestor at LSP (Life Sciences Partners)Andrew ElBardissiPartner at Deerfield Management CompanyCarlos PayaVenture Partner at Ysios CapitalRené KuijtenPartner, Head of EQT Life Sciences at EQT Life SciencesMichael MatlyManaging Partner at West Capital
+ 3 more
Also attended University of Navarra40
Jessica WangFP&A Manager at March Capital PartnersAlba FernándezAnalyst at Inveready Technology Investment GroupAlessandro GiacomettiVice President, Head of Investor Relations at Vida VenturesCésar TraseiraInvestor at KfundFernando Díaz SolísCo-founder and Managing Partner at Kibo VenturesItziar EstevezPartner - Growth at Iris Capital
+ 34 more
Also attended Universidad Complutense de Madrid102
Kike MirallesInvestment Director at Intel CapitalRaúl GallegoGeneral Partner at Inveready Technology Investment GroupPablo GoceAnalyst at Inveready Technology Investment GroupMaria PovedaDirector at Inveready Technology Investment GroupSamantha WulfsonPrincipal at FinTech CollectiveJosé Mª AmusáteguiCo-founder & Partner at Kibo Ventures
+ 96 more
Shared employers
Also worked at IMU Biosciences4
Also worked at Vaxcyte10
Eavan MurrayAnalyst at PeakSpan Capital PartnersCarlos PayaVenture Partner at Ysios CapitalKurt von EmsterManaging Partner at AbingworthPatrick EnrightManaging Director at Longitude CapitalPatrick HeronManaging Partner at Frazier Life SciencesRob HopfnerManaging Director at Pivotal Life Sciences
+ 4 more
