RiverVest Venture Partners Promotes Niall O'Donnell, Ph.D., to Principal

ST. LOUIS, April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- RiverVest Venture Partners®, a venture capital firm investing in emerging medical technology and biopharmaceutical companies, today announced the promotion of Niall O'Donnell, Ph.D., to principal. Dr. O'Donnell joined RiverVest as a Kauffman Fellow in May 2006 and has continued his work as an associate since completing his fellowship in July 2008. His focus is biopharmaceutical, diagnostic and medical device opportunities.

"The Kauffman Fellows Program accepts only the elite of the elite," said Jay Schmelter, managing director, RiverVest Venture Partners. "But Dr. O'Donnell has proven to be in a class of his own. His strong educational and scientific background, coupled with his prior industry experience, made Dr. O'Donnell an ideal fellowship candidate. But during the past four years, he has exceeded even our highest expectations. His earnest inquiry, rigorous due diligence and uncanny ability to consider all facets of a deal have earned him respect and admiration across the board. RiverVest is pleased to promote Dr. O'Donnell principal."

Prior to joining RiverVest, Dr. O'Donnell spent five years as an immunologist at Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development in San Diego, where he was part of a successful cross-disciplinary team of chemists and biologists that drove small molecule anti-inflammatory drugs into clinical trials. As co-author of the first paper validating the newly discovered histamine H4 receptor (H4R) as a key regulator of asthma and immune pathologies, Dr. O'Donnell helped expand the known influences of histamine on the immune system and highlight the therapeutic potential of H4R antagonists in allergic conditions.

Dr. O'Donnell is a board observer at Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Kaperio, Inc. and contributes to the formation, development and business strategies of RiverVest's portfolio companies. His professional affiliations include the American Thoracic Society, American Association of Immunologists and the Society of Glycobiology.

Dr. O'Donnell earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Dundee, Scotland, and his M.A. in Biochemistry from Pembroke College, Oxford. He also received an M.B.A. from the Rady School of Management at the University of California, San Diego.

About RiverVest Venture Partners® RiverVest is a venture capital firm focused on identifying and shaping early-stage life science companies to create significant shareholder value. With hands-on, high-level expertise and financial resources, RiverVest supports entrepreneurs by helping them achieve near-term objectives that position their companies for exit. For more information, please visit www.rivervest.com.

SOURCE RiverVest Venture Partners