Art Pappas

Managing Partner

Art is an experienced entrepreneur and venture capital investor, and former pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry executive. He founded Pappas Capital in 1994, and over the past twenty-nine years the firm has managed more than $800 million in capital and invested in 90 portfolio companies through its flagship Pappas Ventures business unit, as well as its Specialized Fund Management business unit.

Art currently serves as a director for Allievex and Sorriso Pharmaceuticals, and as an observer for Glycomine and CuraSen. Prior to founding Pappas Capital, Art held senior leadership positions at several multinational pharmaceutical companies where he was responsible for the development, licensing and launch of a number of global products. He was an executive member of the board of directors of Glaxo Holdings plc (NYSE: GLX, now GSK), and served as Glaxo’s Chief Executive for international operations including research, development and manufacturing. Prior to Glaxo, Art was Vice President of Commercial Operations for Abbott International, and he held various senior executive positions with Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals and the Dow Chemical Company, in the United States and internationally. He previously served as Chairman and founding CEO of CoLucid Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: CLCD) (acquired by Eli Lilly), and as a director for Aura Biosciences (NASDAQ: AURA), Reneo Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: RPHM), Afferent Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Merck), Arix Bioscience, Chimerix (NASDAQ: CMRX), TYRX (acquired by Medtronic), Quintiles Transnational Corp. (NASDAQ: QTRN, now NASDAQ: IQV), Syntonix Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Biogen IDEC), LEAD Therapeutics (acquired by BioMarin), and Embrex (NASDAQ: EMBX) (acquired by Pfizer). He also served as a board observer for Amplyx Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Pfizer), Balance Therapeutics, Kezar Life Sciences (NASDAQ: KZR), Milestone Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: MIST) and Plexxikon (acquired by Daiichi Sankyo).

Art is a member of the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, where he previously served as chair. He is also a member of the Investor Advisory Committee of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), the Board of Trustees of The Wistar Institute (a National Cancer Institute center), the Board of Directors of the Ronald McDonald House of the Triangle, and the Board of Advisors of the Duke Cancer Institute (a National Cancer Institute center). He is also a lifetime member of BayHelix, a China-based organization of global life science community leaders. He previously served on the Boards of Directors of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) and the Medical University of South Carolina Foundation for Research Development, on the Advisory Board of the BioExec Institute, and as a member of the CEO Roundtable on Cancer. Art is a decorated Vietnam veteran, having served as an officer in the US Army 101st Airborne Division and 2nd PSYOP Airborne Group JFK Special Warfare Center.

Art has a clear passion for developing and mentoring entrepreneurs and helping them build great companies. His relationships are broad and deep and he nurtures them as he does his family and friends.

Education:

The Ohio State University (BS in Biology)
Xavier University (MBA in Finance)

“I take pride in working with entrepreneurs who build great companies and great teams and I'm committed to seeing them further develop sound business practices and strong business relationships. These practices and relationships reflect one's values, work ethic and attitudes toward people and are the key elements of successful leadership."

Serves as a Director for:

Serves as an Observer for:

Other:

  • Director, North Carolina Biotechnology Center
  • Investor Advisory Committee Member, Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO)
  • Trustee, The Wistar Institute
  • Director, Ronald McDonald House of the Triangle
  • Board of Advisors Member, Duke Cancer Institute
  • Lifetime Member, BayHelix