BOSTON--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Third Rock Ventures, LLC, a venture capital firm focused on building life sciences companies, today announced that Daniel S. Lynch has joined Third Rock as an entrepreneur-in-residence (EIR). As an EIR, Mr. Lynch will provide strategic input on new and existing portfolio companies.
“A key component of Third Rock’s model is to work with extraordinary leaders in the industry and to leverage their unique expertise to help us build great companies. Dan has more than 25 years of operational and leadership experience in the biotech and pharma industries. We are delighted to have Dan as part of Third Rock, where he will bring his strategic and operating expertise to collaborate with our team and help our portfolio companies,” said Kevin Starr, partner of Third Rock Ventures.
Mr. Lynch brings more than 25 years of experience serving in management positions in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. He spent nearly five years at ImClone Systems, serving as chief executive officer and chief financial officer. As CEO, Mr. Lynch led ImClone through a significant turnaround, helping to rebuild the company and secure FDA approval of ERBITUX® (cetuximab), a novel cancer treatment. As CFO, he led negotiations related to the major partnership between ImClone and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Earlier in his career, Mr. Lynch served in various financial positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb over a 15-year tenure. He is currently executive chairman of Avila Therapeutics and Stromedix, Inc. and serves on the board of directors for Third Rock Ventures’ portfolio company bluebird bio. Mr. Lynch has also served on the board of directors at Ivrea Pharmaceuticals and U.S. Oncology. He received his M.B.A. from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia and his B.S. from Wesleyan University.
“Third Rock’s commitment to its portfolio companies and unique investment model provide a terrific opportunity to help transform visionary science into a reality,” said Mr. Lynch. “I am excited to work as part of the Third Rock team to build these companies and convert breakthrough science and technology into important new solutions for the medical community.”
About Third Rock Ventures
Third Rock Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2007 with the mission to launch transformative life sciences companies. With more than $800 million and two funds under management, the firm is focused on working with passionate entrepreneurs to build exceptional companies working in areas of disruptive science that will make a difference in the lives of patients. The firm has assembled a team with deep expertise and a proven track record of building respected and successful life sciences companies. With decades of complementary, cross-functional operational and leadership experience, the Third Rock team actively engages with its portfolio companies to provide hands-on strategy and experience to successfully launch companies with the best vision, science, operations, people and culture. With offices in Boston, MA and San Francisco, CA, Third Rock is well positioned geographically to closely collaborate with its portfolio companies to achieve their goals. To learn more about Third Rock and its portfolio companies, please visit www.thirdrockventures.com.
Current Third Rock Portfolio Companies
Ablexis, Afferent Pharmaceuticals, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Alnara Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Eli Lilly & Co. in 2010), bluebird bio, Blueprint Medicines, Constellation Pharmaceuticals, CytomX Therapeutics, DC Devices, Edimer Pharmaceuticals, Eleven Biotherapeutics, Foundation Medicine, Kala Pharmaceuticals, Nine Point Medical, PanOptica Pharmaceuticals, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Seventh Sense Biosystems, Taris Biomedical and Zafgen.