Niall O'Donnell
InvestorManaging Director at RiverVest Venture Partners · Board director at Curzion Pharmaceuticals Inc · Board director at Wugen · Board director at Spruce Biosciences
San Diego
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285 people in our graph share verified history with Niall — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
About
Niall O'Donnell is a managing director at RiverVest Venture Partners, which he joined in 2006 as a Kauffman Fellow before being promoted to managing director in 2014. Trained as a biochemist and immunologist, he began his career at Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development in San Diego working on small-molecule anti-inflammatory drugs. At RiverVest he helped build the firm's biopharmaceutical strategy, founded or co-founded five biopharma companies, co-invented patents, and helped raise more than $1 billion for early-stage rare-disease and unmet-need companies. He drove the creation of Mirum Pharmaceuticals from Lumena assets and currently sits on the boards of several portfolio companies including Engrail, Atalanta, Glycomine, Sparrow, and Allotera Therapeutics.
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Founded or co-founded five biopharmaceutical companies while at RiverVest. Helped found and develop the clinical strategy for Curzion Pharmaceuticals and Excaliard Pharmaceuticals. Drove the creation of Mirum Pharmaceuticals after spinning Lumena assets out of Takeda in 2018.
- Education
- Earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Dundee, Scotland. Earned an M.A. in Biochemistry from Pembroke College, Oxford. Completed postdoctoral work at the University of California, San Diego. Earned an MBA from the University of California, San Diego – Rady School of Management.
- Communities
- Joined RiverVest as a Kauffman Fellow in 2006.
- Awards
- Received the Sullivan Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Achievement Award from the Rady School in 2024.
From Niall's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Board director at Curzion Pharmaceuticals Inc
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Curzion Pharmaceuticals Inc's investors · 2
Board director at Wugen
Intro paths
In turn, Niall can intro founders to Wugen's investors below.
Wugen's investors · 8
Board director at Spruce Biosciences
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In turn, Niall can intro founders to Spruce Biosciences's investors below.
Spruce Biosciences's investors · 8
Experience
- RiverVest Venture PartnersManaging Directorcurrent2006 — presentSan Diego
- American Thoracic SocietyCo-Chair of Respiratory Innovation Summitcurrent2026 — present
- University of California, Davis - Graduate School of ManagementMember of the Board of Advisorscurrent2024 — presentDavis, CA
- Lumena Pharmaceuticals Inc.Interim Chief Medical Officer2011 — 2013San Diego
- J&J PRDPost Doctoral Fellow and Researcher2002 — 2006San Diego
Skills & more
+8 more
Due DiligenceTechnology TransferBusiness DevelopmentStrategic PlanningProduct DevelopmentProduct ManagementMergers & AcquisitionsBiochemistryFrom Niall's professional profile.
Deals · 2
Genoa PharmaceuticalsBoard seat
via RiverVest Venture Partners · filed Oct 2023 · $189.2M raise
Lyric PharmaceuticalsBoard seat
via RiverVest Venture Partners · filed Apr 2017 · $33.9M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Led
Otonomy
Board seats
Allotera Therapeutics (formerly Wugen)Amplyx PharmaceuticalsAtalanta TherapeuticsAvalyn PharmaCurzion Pharmaceuticals IncEngrail TherapeuticsGlycomineSparrow PharmaSparrow PharmaceuticalsSpruce BiosciencesSpruce BiosciencesWugenWugen
Investor
Allotera TherapeuticsAmplyx PharmaceuticalsAtalantaCurzion PharmaceuticalsEngrail TherapeuticsExcaliard PharmaceuticalsGlycomineLumena PharmaceuticalsMirum PharmaceuticalsReneo PharmaceuticalsZiarco
Sources: curated public sources · the investor's own website · SEC Form D filings.
Colleagues at RiverVest Venture Partners
Network1
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Frequently asked questions
- Who is Niall O'Donnell?
- Niall O'Donnell is a managing director at RiverVest Venture Partners, which he joined in 2006 as a Kauffman Fellow before being promoted to managing director in 2014. Trained as a biochemist and immunologist, he began his career at Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development in San Diego working on small-molecule anti-inflammatory drugs. At RiverVest he helped build the firm's biopharmaceutical strategy, founded or co-founded five biopharma companies, co-invented patents, and helped raise more than $1 billion for early-stage rare-disease and unmet-need companies. He drove the creation of Mirum Pharmaceuticals from Lumena assets and currently sits on the boards of several portfolio companies including Engrail, Atalanta, Glycomine, Sparrow, and Allotera Therapeutics.
- Where does Niall O'Donnell work?
- Niall O'Donnell is Managing Director at RiverVest Venture Partners and Board director at Curzion Pharmaceuticals Inc and Board director at Wugen and Board director at Spruce Biosciences.
- What boards does Niall O'Donnell sit on?
- Niall O'Donnell holds tracked board seats at Allotera Therapeutics (formerly Wugen), Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Atalanta Therapeutics, Avalyn Pharma, Curzion Pharmaceuticals Inc, Engrail Therapeutics, Genoa Pharmaceuticals, Glycomine, Lyric Pharmaceuticals, Sparrow Pharma.
- What companies has Niall O'Donnell invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Otonomy, Allotera Therapeutics, Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Atalanta, Curzion Pharmaceuticals, Engrail Therapeutics, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Glycomine, Lumena Pharmaceuticals, Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Reneo Pharmaceuticals, Ziarco.
- Where did Niall O'Donnell go to school?
- Niall O'Donnell studied at University of Dundee (PhD, Biochemistry); Pembroke College, University of Oxford (MA, Natural Sciences (Biochemistry)); University of California, San Diego - Rady School of Management (MBA, Finance & entrepreneurship).
- What awards has Niall O'Donnell received?
- Received the Sullivan Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Achievement Award from the Rady School in 2024.
- Does Niall O'Donnell lead rounds?
- Yes — Niall O'Donnell has led 1 tracked investment.
Same school
Also attended University of Dundee31
+ 25 more
Also attended University of California, San Diego - Rady School of Management29
+ 23 more
Also attended UC San Diego571
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Shared employers
Also worked at University of California, Davis - Graduate School of Management7
+ 1 more
Also worked at Lumena Pharmaceuticals Inc.1
Also worked at J&J PRD360
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