Don Drakeman

Don joined Advent in 2007 after 25 years as an entrepreneur and chief executive in the biotechnology industry, during which he co-founded Medarex Inc and Genmab A/S, both of which grew to be multi-billion dollar companies. Don has overseen the progression of numerous innovative medical products for cancer, infectious disease and inflammation from research concept to clinical trials. Several of them have now become FDA-approved products, including pioneering cancer treatments Yervoy® and OpdivoTM.

Don takes Advisory, Board and senior non-executive roles with our portfolio companies, including 4-antibody, Capella Biosciences and Aleta Inc.

Don received an AB from Dartmouth College, a JD from Columbia University and a PhD in the Humanities from Princeton University, where he has served as a member of the Faculty. He is currently a Fellow in Health Management at the University of Cambridge.