Fundraising Fox

Serge Messerlian

Investor

Operating Partner, DCVC Bio at DCVC Bio · Board director at Plexium

San Francisco Bay Area

About

Serge Messerlian has worked across the life sciences industry in hematology, oncology, immunology, and rare diseases. He was CEO of Teon Therapeutics, an immuno-oncology biotech, and previously served as President of Janssen Oncology, a division of Johnson & Johnson, where he directed strategy for brands and pipeline programs including cell therapies and bi-specifics. He also held executive roles at Johnson & Johnson's Actelion, Baxalta, and Baxter International, and holds degrees from McGill University and an MBA from the University of Toronto.

Invests in

Biotech

Board director at Plexium

Intro paths

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In turn, Serge can intro founders to Plexium's investors below.

Plexium's investors · 8

CRV (Charles River Ventures)Bay Area · $250K – $5M checksDCVC (Data Collective)Palo Alto · $5M – $25M checksM VenturesLos Angeles · $10.8M checksNeotribe VenturesMenlo Park · $250K – $2M checksPivotal Life SciencesSan Francisco · since 2025SoftBank Vision FundLondonTCG CrossoverPalo Alto · since 2025The Column GroupSan Francisco · $30M checks

Experience

  1. PlexiumChief Executive Officercurrent2026 — present
  2. PlexiumMember Board of Directorscurrent2024 — present
  3. Auron Therapeutics, Inc.Member Board of Directorscurrent2024 — present
  4. DCVC Bio, Venture CapitalOperating Partnercurrent2024 — present
  5. Creyon BioChairman & CEO2024 — 2026
  6. Teon Therapeutics Inc.,Chief Executive Officer2022 — 2023
  7. Johnson & JohnsonPresident, Oncology2020 — 2022
  8. Johnson & JohnsonPresident, Actelion2017 — 2020
  9. Johnson & JohnsonSr. Director, US Portfolio Head, Immunology2016 — 2017
  10. BaxaltaVice President, Worldwide Portfolio Head, Biosimilars2013 — 2016
  11. Baxter International Inc.Vice President, Worldwide Portfolio Head, Hematology2012 — 2013
  12. Baxter International Inc.Sr. Director, Worldwide Portfolio Lead, Hematology2011 — 2012
  13. Baxter International Inc.Business Unit Director, BioScience2007 — 2011Canada
  14. Baxter International Inc.Business Unit Manager, BioScience2003 — 2007Canada
  15. Baxter International Inc.Technical Sales Specialist, BioScience1999 — 2003Canada

Skills & more

Strategy13Leadership5Strategic PlanningManagement1Biopharmaceuticals45Biotechnology37Market Access30Commercialization28Global Marketing24Product Launch20Sales Effectiveness18Pharmaceutical Sales12
+12 moreOncologyImmunologyCross-functional Team LeadershipRegulatory AffairsBiologicsClinical DevelopmentHematologyMedical AffairsHospital SalesVaccinesMarketing StrategyCommercial Management

From Serge's professional profile.

Colleagues at DCVC Bio

Aimee Villamayor
Office Manager & Executive Assistant, DCVC Bio at DCVC Bio
Carly Smith
Office Assistant, DCVC Bio at DCVC Bio
Christopher Meldrum
Entrepreneur In Residence, DCVC Bio at DCVC Bio
Dr. Adil Anjem
Entrepreneur In Residence, DCVC Bio at DCVC Bio
Dr. Andy May
Operating Partner, DCVC Bio at DCVC Bio
Dr. Emily Park
Principal, DCVC Bio at DCVC Bio
Dr. John Hamer
Managing Partner, DCVC Bio at DCVC Bio
Dr. Justin Kern
Partner, DCVC Bio at DCVC Bio

Frequently asked questions

Who is Serge Messerlian?
Serge Messerlian has worked across the life sciences industry in hematology, oncology, immunology, and rare diseases. He was CEO of Teon Therapeutics, an immuno-oncology biotech, and previously served as President of Janssen Oncology, a division of Johnson & Johnson, where he directed strategy for brands and pipeline programs including cell therapies and bi-specifics. He also held executive roles at Johnson & Johnson's Actelion, Baxalta, and Baxter International, and holds degrees from McGill University and an MBA from the University of Toronto.
Where does Serge Messerlian work?
Serge Messerlian is Operating Partner, DCVC Bio at DCVC Bio and Board director at Plexium.
What does Serge Messerlian invest in?
Serge Messerlian invests in Biotech.
Where did Serge Messerlian go to school?
Serge Messerlian studied at University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management (Master of Business Administration - MBA); McGill University (Master of Science - MSc, Molecular Genetics); McGill University (Bachelor of Science - BSc, Physiology & Biotechnology).

Founder mafias

McGill University mafia80

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Noubar AfeyanBSFounded ProFound Therapeutics +12Avak KahvejianPh.D.Founded ProFound Therapeutics +5Jeffrey KarpBENGFounded Tissium +3Natalia BakaevaArtsFounded cashew +1Jonathan LimMDFounded Boundless Bio +1Jules TestardB.Sc HonoursFounded Piepacker +1

+ 73 more

Johnson & Johnson mafia25

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Kim RodriguezDirector of SalesFounded BrainCheck +1Sid ViswanathanGlobal Operations Leadership DevelopmentFounded Alchemy Health +1Peter EmighFormulationsFounded Savoy LifeSebastian RualesCategory Management ManagerFounded BiaArthur SuckowPostdocFounded DTx PharmaGatanya ArnicCorporate Health AssociateFounded Centerforyouthwellness

+ 18 more

University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management mafia17

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Sahar SaidiMaster of Business Administration (MBA)Founded LUS Brands +1Ivan YuenMBAFounded WattpadMark SteeleMasters in Business AdministrationFounded Level AccessRay MuzykaICD.DFounded BiowareCalvin BenchimolBachelor of CommerceFounded CrewscopeKarim S. KarimMBAFounded KA Imaging

+ 10 more

Plexium mafia2

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Ian PeikonBoard MemberFounded Cajal Therapeutics +1

Same school

Also attended University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management95

Clayton MacDougaldInvestment Director - Water at Emerald Technology Ventures AgLeah MorrisExecutive Director, Encode: AI for Science at Pillar VCKaty YamGeneral Manager at Inovia CapitalGreg AllenPartner at ChrysalixIvan YuenInvestor at AgeTech CapitalPeter Seufer-WasserthalExecutives in Residence at GENERAL INCEPTION

+ 89 more

Also attended McGill University425

Harley FinkelsteinInvestor at Felicis VenturesMattias LjungmanInvestor at Moonfire VenturesNoubar AfeyanInvestor at Flagship PioneeringDavid NaultGeneral Partner at Luge CapitalLaviva MazharPrincipal at Luge CapitalLisa PurcellInvestor at Third Rock Ventures

+ 419 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Plexium11

Ian PeikonVenture Partner at Lux CapitalTherese LiechtensteinPartner at 4BIO CapitalKiersten SteadManaging Partner, DCVC Bio at DCVC (Data Collective)Rob HopfnerManaging Director at Pivotal Life SciencesBenjamin LiVice President at Pivotal Life SciencesJoey MasonLife Sciences Venture Partner at Claret Capital Partners

+ 5 more

Also worked at Auron Therapeutics, Inc.1

Alexandra CantleyManaging Partner at Polaris Partners

Also worked at Creyon Bio2

Kiersten SteadManaging Partner, DCVC Bio at DCVC (Data Collective)Aizaz SyedSenior Portfolio and Investment Manager at Tenmile

Also worked at Johnson & Johnson151

Karthik ArdhanareeswaranInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)KobeFinance Director at Hummingbird VenturesMickelFinance & Risk Management at Hummingbird VenturesHal PazInvestor at Khosla VenturesNiall O'DonnellManaging Director at RiverVest Venture PartnersBrad H. ValeFounding General Partner at Treo Ventures, Llc

+ 145 more