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Life Sciences

General Atlantic has a successful track record of Life Sciences investing over several decades, focusing our work on both revenue-stage and emerging growth pharmaceutical and biotechnology businesses. We partner with visionary entrepreneurs developing crucial, next-generation therapeutic solutions that address the greatest areas of unmet medical need, as well as the life science technologies, tools, and services that support and enable these therapeutics. General Atlantic is uniquely positioned as a long-term partner to provide the capital, resources, and expertise for these businesses to develop, launch, and grow. Our global network also enables us to leverage our longstanding experience in Technology and Healthcare internationally to support the growth of new businesses.

Our Current and Former Life Sciences Portfolio VIEW ALL

Sanfer ×

Sanfer is one of the largest independent pharmaceutical companies in Mexico, operating in nine countries across Latin America.

In July 2021, Sanfer was sold from General Atlantic’s managed account program to a continuation vehicle managed by General Atlantic.

  • Sector: Life Sciences
  • Headquarters: Mexico City, Mexico
  • Date Invested: 05/20/2014
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Ginkgo Bioworks ×

Ginkgo Bioworks is a synthetic biology company that designs and licenses DNA code for custom designed organisms.

  • Region: United States
  • Sector: Life Sciences
  • Headquarters: Boston, MA
  • Date Invested: 12/13/2017
  • Visit Website

PathAI ×

PathAI is a leading provider of AI-powered research tools and services for pathology.

  • Region: United States
  • Sector: Life Sciences
  • Headquarters: Boston, MA
  • Date Invested: 04/10/2019
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Rubicon Research ×

Rubicon is a specialty generics pharmaceutical product-development company engaged in research, development and manufacturing of branded and specialty generic products and OTC products.

  • Region: India & Southeast Asia
  • Sector: Life Sciences
  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Date Invested: 04/4/2019
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Motif FoodWorks ×

Motif FoodWorks is a synthetic biology company that designs and sells ingredients to companies that make plant-based foods and beverages.

  • Region: United States
  • Sector: Life Sciences
  • Headquarters: Boston, MA
  • Date Invested: 04/26/2019
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OcuMension ×

Ocumension is a clinical-stage biotechnology platform company focused on developing and commercializing innovative ophthalmology therapeutics in China.

  • Region: China
  • Sector: Life Sciences
  • Headquarters: Shanghai, China
  • Date Invested: 06/18/2019

Adagene ×

Adagene is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative antibodies with superior safety and efficacy profiles.

  • Sector: Life Sciences
  • Headquarters: Suzhou, China
  • Date Invested: 12/19/2019
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Immunocore ×

Immunocore is a biotechnology company focused on therapies for oncology, viral diseases, and autoimmune disorders.

  • Sector: Life Sciences
  • Headquarters: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
  • Date Invested: 08/13/2019
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CANbridge ×

CANbridge is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing rare disease therapeutics in China.

  • Region: China
  • Sector: Life Sciences
  • Headquarters: Beijing, China
  • Date Invested: 03/10/2020
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Royalty Pharma ×

Royalty Pharma is an innovative biopharma company with a leading portfolio of commercial and pre-commercial drug royalties.

  • Region: United States
  • Sector: Life Sciences
  • Headquarters: New York, NY
  • Date Invested: 02/4/2020
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HUTCHMED ×

HUTCHMED is an innovative, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery and global development of targeted therapies and immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and immunological diseases.

  • Region: China
  • Sector: Life Sciences
  • Headquarters: Hong Kong, China
  • Date Invested: 07/2/2020
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Life Sciences Sector Team VIEW ALL

Brett Zbar, MD

Managing Director, Global Head of Life Sciences New York

Brett Zbar, MD ×

Brett Zbar, MD, is a Managing Director and Global Head of General Atlantic’s Life Sciences sector. Before joining General Atlantic in 2020, Brett was a Managing Director at Foresite Capital, where he focused on backing leading healthcare entrepreneurs and companies at all stages. Prior to that, he was a Partner at Aisling Capital, where he invested in Life Sciences companies developing and commercializing innovative healthcare products, services and technologies.

In his prior investing roles, Brett served as a board member or observer at multiple companies including Aragon (acquired), Catalent (IPO), ConnectiveRx, Kinnate Biopharma (IPO), ORIC Pharmaceuticals (IPO), Peloton Therapeutics (acquired), Pharvaris (IPO), Planet Biopharmaceuticals (acquired), Replimune (IPO), Seragon (acquired), Signant Health, Turning Point Therapeutics (IPO, acquired) and VenatoRx Pharmaceuticals.

Earlier in his career, Brett was a senior member of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Products practice at McKinsey & Company. He completed his internship in internal medicine on the Osler Medical Service at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

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David Hodgson

Vice Chairman New York

David Hodgson ×

Dave Hodgson is Vice Chairman of General Atlantic and has been a member of the investment team for more than 30 years, with extensive experience across the firm’s sectors. After joining General Atlantic as its third investment professional in 1982, he helped build the firm with a singular vision of supporting entrepreneurs as they work to grow their businesses. From the outset, Dave’s mission has been to partner with strong growth companies led by exceptional management teams to help their organizations become market leaders.

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Rob Perez

Operating Partner New York

Rob Perez ×

Rob Perez is an Operating Partner at General Atlantic, providing strategic support and advice to the firm’s investment team and portfolio companies in the Life Sciences sector. Before joining General Atlantic in 2019, he was Managing Director of Vineyard Sound Advisors, LLC, an advisory practice focused on growth companies in the biopharma industry. Prior to that, Rob was President and CEO of Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. before its sale to Merck in 2015. Before joining Cubist in 2003, he served as Vice President of Biogen, Inc.’s CNS Business Unit.

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Peter Lafer

Principal New York

Peter Lafer ×

Peter Lafer is a Principal at General Atlantic and focuses on investments in the firm’s Life Sciences sector. Before joining General Atlantic in 2018, Peter was a Principal at Essex Woodlands, a healthcare-focused growth equity firm. Peter began his career as an Investment Banking Analyst at J.P. Morgan in the Healthcare Group.

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Walker Carpenter

Vice President New York

Walker Carpenter ×

Walker Carpenter is a Vice President at General Atlantic and focuses on investments in the firm’s Life Sciences sector. Before joining General Atlantic in 2017, Walker was a 2016 General Atlantic Summer Analyst.

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Joe von Rickenbach

Senior Advisor

Joe von Rickenbach ×

Joe von Rickenbach is a Senior Advisor at General Atlantic, providing strategic support and advice to the firm’s investment teams and portfolio companies in the Life Sciences sector. Joe is also currently the Managing Director of stet vision LLC. Prior to that, he was Co-Founder, President, and CEO of biotechnology company Helio Vision, Inc., a Boston-based ophthalmic biopharma company developing a therapy for proliferative vitreoretinopathy which was merged with Aldeyra, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALDX) in 2019. Joe was also the Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of PAREXEL International Corporation, leading the company in its growth from one of the first clinical research organizations in the early 1980s to its place as a leading global biopharmaceutical services provider, including its IPO, multiple secondary offerings, and over 40 mergers & acquisitions during his 36-year tenure. After beginning his career with Schering-Plough, he held positions with ENSECO (formerly ERCO).

Joe was named Executive of the Year in North America in the 2010 International Business Awards and won the Ernst & Young New England Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1997. In 2013, he was honored by the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council with the Henri Termeer Innovative Leadership Award. In 2014, he was named Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year in Life Sciences. In 2018, he received the Scrip Informa Lifetime Achievement Award and was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

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Dr. Lloyd Minor

Senior Advisor

Dr. Lloyd Minor ×

Dr. Lloyd Minor is a Senior Advisor at General Atlantic, providing strategic support and advice to the firm’s investment teams and portfolio companies in the Life Sciences sector, drawing upon his extensive leadership experience as a scientist, surgeon, and academic leader. Dr. Minor also serves as the Carl and Elizabeth Naumann Dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine, a position he has held since December 2012. He is also a professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and a professor of Bioengineering and of Neurobiology, by courtesy, at Stanford University.

Before joining Stanford, Dr. Minor was provost and senior vice president for academic affairs of The Johns Hopkins University. Prior to his appointment as provost in 2009, Dr. Minor served as the Andelot Professor and director (chair) of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and otolaryngologist-in-chief of The Johns Hopkins Hospital. With more than 160 published articles and chapters, Dr. Minor is an expert in balance and inner ear disorders. In 2012, Dr. Minor was elected to the National Academy of Medicine, formerly the Institute of Medicine.

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