Patrick Mahaffy

Patrick Mahaffy stands as a seasoned biotech leader focused on oncology. His expertise lies in drug development and commercialization, mainly within the US and Europe. Though his early companies were centered in Boulder, Colorado, he resides in South Florida, continuing his commitment to the biotech industry. His prosperous biotech career started at Warburg Pincus, where he worked as an investment banker from 1986 to 1992. He launched his first company, Nexstar Pharmaceuticals, which he led as CEO from 1992 until its acquisition by Gilead Sciences in 1998. Even today, Nexstar's flagship drug, Ambisome, remains the standard treatment for certain life-threatening fungal infections. Afterward, he became the CEO of Pharmion, leading the company from 2000 until it was acquired by Celgene (now Bristol Myers Squibb) in 2008. Pharma's leading drug, Vidaza, is the standard for treating myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia. In 2009, he co-founded Clovis Oncology and served as its CEO. Under his guidance, Clovis developed and marketed a drug for ovarian and prostate cancer in the US and Europe. Furthermore, the company delved into targeted radionuclide therapy, a promising field in oncology drug development. Unfortunately, the company was adversely affected by COVID-19, which slowed cancer diagnoses and led to FDA concerns regarding the drug class used for ovarian cancer treatment. Clovis wound down its operations in late 2022. His academic achievements include a Bachelor's degree in International Affairs from Lewis and Clark College and a Master’s in International Affairs from Columbia University. Mahaffy's support marks his dedication to philanthropy for family assistance funds and his long-standing role as a member of the Board of Trustees for Lewis & Clark College. Despite his significant contributions, he prefers to keep his philanthropic activities out of the spotlight.