Robert Nelsen

Robert Nelsen is among the most successful biotechnology investors globally. His efforts have helped propel ARCH to be one of the top early-stage biotech venture groups. He joined ARCH at its founding and played a significant role in the early sourcing, financing, and development of more than 100 companies, including thirty that have reached valuations exceeding $1 billion. His seed and early-stage investments include Illumina (ILMN), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Juno Therapeutics (JUNO, acquired by Celgene-CELG now BMS), Beam Therapeutics (BEAM), Karuna Therapeutics (KRTX), Array BioPharma (ARRY, acquired by Pfizer-PFE), Unity Biotechnology (UBX), Hua Medicine (2552:HK), Vir Biotechnology (VIR), Agios Pharmaceuticals (AGIO), Sage Therapeutics (SAGE), CStone Pharmaceuticals (2616:HK), Gossamer Bio (GOSS), Ikaria (acquired by Mallinckrodt-MNK), Kythera Biopharmaceuticals (KYTH, acquired by Allergan-AGN now ABBV), Receptos (RCPT, acquired by Celgene-CELG now BMS), Aviron (AVIR, acquired by MedImmune-MEDI now AZNCF), Denali Therapeutics (DNLI), Rubius Therapeutics (RUBY), Syros Pharmaceuticals (SYRS), Sana Biotechnology, Lyell Immunopharma, GRAIL, Nutcracker Therapeutics, Bit Bio, Brii Biosciences, Happy Healthcare, Insitro, Maze Therapeutics, Encoded Therapeutics, Encodia, EQRx, Mindstrong, Omniome, Prime Medicine, RBNC Therapeutics, KSQ Therapeutics, SciNeuro Pharmaceuticals, Singular Genomics, Sironax, Sonoma Biotherapeutics, Transcenta Holding, Verve Therapeutics, Volastra Therapeutics, NetBot (acquired by Excite), Bluebird Bio (BLUE), R2 Technology (acquired by Hologic-HOLX), Genomica (GNOM, acquired by Exelixis-EXEL), XenoPort (XNPT, acquired by Arbor Pharmaceuticals), Fate Therapeutics (FATE), Caliper Life Sciences (CALP, acquired by Perkin Elmer-PKI), Trubion Pharmaceuticals (TRBN, acquired by Emergent Biosolutions-EBS), Adolor (ADLR, acquired by Cubist Pharmaceuticals-CBST now MRK), deCODE Genetics (acquired by Amgen-AMGN), Editas (EDIT), 10x Genomics, Semma Therapeutics (acquired by Vertex Pharmaceuticals-VRTX), IDUN Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Pfizer-PFE), Classmates.com (acquired by United Online-UNTD), and Everyday Learning Corporation (acquired by Tribune Corp. now NXST).

Mr. Nelsen is a director of Vir Biotechnology, GRAIL, Sana Biotechnology, Beam Therapeutics, Unity Biotechnology, Denali Therapeutics, and serves as Chairman of Hua Medicine, among others. He previously served as a Trustee of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute, the Institute for Systems Biology, and was a director of the National Venture Capital Association. Mr. Nelsen holds an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago and a B.S. from the University of Puget Sound with majors in Economics and Biology.