Aaron Royston, MD, MBA

Managing Partner

Aaron Royston, M.D., M.B.A. is a Managing Partner at venBio. He has more than 15 years of experience in life sciences investing, company formation and operations, strategic and product planning in the biotechnology industry, and clinical research.

He has helped to launch, invest, and serve on the board of a number of venBio companies including Apellis Pharmaceuticals (IPO 2017), Menlo Therapeutics (IPO 2018), Akero Therapeutics (IPO 2019), Harmony Biosciences (IPO 2020), Ventyx BioSciences (IPO 2021), RayzeBio (IPO 2023, acquired by BMS), Ablaze Pharmaceuticals, 35Pharma, Attovia Therapeutics, and ViceBio. These companies’ efforts have led to six FDA drug approvals.

Dr. Royston received his B.S. in biological sciences from Duke University, and his M.D. and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.

Prior to joining venBio, Dr. Royston was a member of the investment team at Vivo Capital, a life science venture capital firm. Previously, he worked at Bain & Company, where he advised biotechnology companies on a range of strategic and operational issues. Earlier in his career, he coordinated clinical research at Mount Sinai Medical Center, where his research has been published and presented in multiple medical journals and conferences.
While a student, he founded and launched a technology company that was acquired after receiving multiple awards and funding from the New York City Economic Development Corporation. In 2010, he was recognized by the United States White House as a Champion of Change for his work in Technology and Innovation. Dr. Royston is active in the community and served on the board of SFBWS, an environmental non-profit authorized by Congress to support the education, interpretation, and research of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Aaron Royston, MD, MBA

Managing Partner

Dr. Royston received his B.S. in biological sciences from Duke University, and his M.D. and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.

San Francisco office

Seattle office