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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.
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
Investors connected to Niall in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
About this profile. Compiled from public sources — RiverVest Venture Partners's own website, regulatory filings and public professional profiles — and summarised by Fundraising Fox; every fact is kept with where it came from. Spotted an error, or would rather not be listed? Email privacy@fundraisingfox.com · How we build profiles · Your rights