Dominik Escher
InvestorManaging Partner at Pureos Bioventures
Zurich, Switzerland
Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M
About
Dominik Escher is a biotechnology entrepreneur who founded ESBATech in 1998 and served as its CEO until 2016, raising over $90 million in venture capital before the company's acquisition by Alcon for $589 million in 2009. Following Alcon's acquisition by Novartis in 2011, he led ESBATech as part of the Novartis Institutes of Biomedical Research, where the company developed antibody fragment therapeutics including Brolucizumab, which received FDA approval for wet age-related macular degeneration in 2019. Escher currently serves as Managing Partner of Pureos Bioventures, Chairman of CDR-Life AG, and Board Member of Adcytherix, and previously served as President of the Swiss Biotech Association from 2013 to 2022.
Experience
- AdcytherixBoard Membercurrent2026 — present
- Tavo BiotherapeuticsBoard Membercurrent2026 — present
- Botnar Institute of Immune Engineering – BIIEChairman of the Board of Trusteescurrent2024 — presentBasel, Switzerland
- Swiss Biotech AssociationHonorary Membercurrent2022 — present
- Swiss Biotech AssociationPresident2013 — 2022
- Swiss Biotech AssociationBoard member and Vice President2002 — 2013
- CDR-Life Inc.Chairmancurrent2017 — presentZurich, Switzerland
- Pureos BioventuresManaging Partnercurrent2017 — presentZurich, Switzerland
- PulseSight TherapeuticsBoard Membercurrent2020 — presentParis, Fort Worth
- NovaGo TherapeuticsBoard of Directorscurrent2019 — presentZurich
- Topadur Pharma AGBoard Member2017 — 2026Zurich, Switzerland
- Araris Biotech AGBoard Member2020 — 2025Zurich, Switzerland
- ESBATech, a Novartis company LLCHead ESBATech2009 — 2016
- ESBATech, a Novartis company LLCCEO1998 — 2009
Education
- University of ZurichPh.D., Molecular Biology1995 — 1999
- University of California, San FranciscoMolecular Biology1995
- University of ZurichM.S., Molecular Biology1991 — 1995
- ETH ZürichMaster, Education1988 — 1992
Skills & more
+8 more
Life SciencesOncologyCommercializationPatentsCROTechnology TransferPharmacologyProtein ChemistryFrom Dominik's professional profile.
Same school
Also attended University of Zurich66
+ 60 more
Also attended University of California, San Francisco47
+ 41 more
Also attended ETH Zürich136
+ 130 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Adcytherix1
Also worked at Tavo Biotherapeutics2
Also worked at CDR-Life Inc.1
Also worked at PulseSight Therapeutics1
Colleagues at Pureos Bioventures
Network5
Investors connected to Dominik in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.





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