John McKearn
InvestorPh.D. at RiverVest Venture Partners · Board director at Bonum Therapeutics · Board director at Wugen · Board director at Good Therapeutics
St. Louis, Missouri
Writes $100K – $10M checks · typically $1M
About
John McKearn is a Ph.D. immunologist who has spent his career translating scientific research into therapeutics across academia, large pharma, venture-backed biotechs, and early-stage company formation. He spent 16 years at Searle/Pharmacia (now Pfizer), rising to Global Head of Research and helping bring more than a dozen pharmaceuticals to market, before becoming president and CEO of San Diego biotech Kalypsys. He joined RiverVest in 2008 as a managing director, developing the firm's biopharma strategy, and transitioned to senior advisor in 2026. His work centers on assessing biological mechanisms, development risk, and clinical feasibility of early-stage drug candidates, and he has served on the boards of numerous portfolio companies including Allakos, Good Therapeutics, and ZS Pharma.
Contact· published on John's own website
Likely email· guessed from name + firm domain, not firm-published
- j•••@rivervest.comreveal100% confident
Beyond investing
- Education
- Holds a Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Chicago. Holds a B.S. in Biology from Northern Illinois University.
From John's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Board director at Bonum Therapeutics
Intro paths
In turn, John can intro founders to Bonum Therapeutics's investors below.
Bonum Therapeutics's investors · 6
Co-founders at Bonum Therapeutics
Board director at Wugen
Intro paths
In turn, John can intro founders to Wugen's investors below.
Wugen's investors · 8
Board director at Good Therapeutics
Intro paths
In turn, John can intro founders to Good Therapeutics's investors below.
Good Therapeutics's investors · 3
Co-founders at Good Therapeutics
Experience
- RiverVest Venture PartnersBiotechnology Consultantcurrent2026 — present
- RiverVest Venture PartnersManaging Director2008 — 2025
- IDM PharmaBoard Member2000 — 2009
- KalypsysCSO, President & CEO2003 — 2006
- PharmaciaSr VP of Discovery Research2000 — 2003
- SearleResearch1987 — 2000
Skills & more
+3 more
BiopharmaceuticalsPatentsPharmaceutical IndustryFrom John's professional profile.
Deals · 2
Bonum TherapeuticsBoard seat
via RiverVest Venture Partners · filed Apr 2026 · $32.3M raise
OncoResponseBoard seat
via RiverVest Venture Partners · filed May 2025
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Board seats
Allakos IncCodeable TherapeuticsEpimmuneGood TherapeuticsIDM PharmaKeel PharmaceuticalsLumena PharmaceuticalsMyonid TherapeuticsOutriggerOxalurx IncWugenWugenZS Pharma
Sources: the investor's own website · SEC Form D filings.
Colleagues at RiverVest Venture Partners
Network1
Investors connected to John in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is John McKearn?
- John McKearn is a Ph.D. immunologist who has spent his career translating scientific research into therapeutics across academia, large pharma, venture-backed biotechs, and early-stage company formation. He spent 16 years at Searle/Pharmacia (now Pfizer), rising to Global Head of Research and helping bring more than a dozen pharmaceuticals to market, before becoming president and CEO of San Diego biotech Kalypsys. He joined RiverVest in 2008 as a managing director, developing the firm's biopharma strategy, and transitioned to senior advisor in 2026. His work centers on assessing biological mechanisms, development risk, and clinical feasibility of early-stage drug candidates, and he has served on the boards of numerous portfolio companies including Allakos, Good Therapeutics, and ZS Pharma.
- Where does John McKearn work?
- John McKearn is Ph.D. at RiverVest Venture Partners and Board director at Bonum Therapeutics and Board director at Wugen and Board director at Good Therapeutics.
- What check size does John McKearn write?
- John McKearn typically writes checks of $100K – $10M.
- What boards does John McKearn sit on?
- John McKearn holds tracked board seats at Allakos Inc, Bonum Therapeutics, Bonum Therapeutics, Codeable Therapeutics, Epimmune, Good Therapeutics, IDM Pharma, Keel Pharmaceuticals, Lumena Pharmaceuticals, Myonid Therapeutics.
- Where did John McKearn go to school?
- John McKearn studied at University of Chicago (PhD, Immunology); Northern Illinois University (Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Biology).
Same school
Also attended University of Chicago349
+ 343 more
Also attended Northern Illinois University18
+ 12 more
Shared employers
Also worked at RiverVest Venture Partners11
+ 5 more
Also worked at Pharmacia152
+ 146 more
