Sofinnova Partners, a Paris, London, and Milan-based European life sciences venture capital firm managing over €4 billion in assets, has appointed David Evans as Partner. Evans joins from the Roche Venture Fund, where he most recently served as Senior Investment Director, and brings a career spanning clinical medicine, global health policy, pharmaceutical drug development, and life sciences investing.
Evans trained as a physician at the University of Sydney and practiced medicine at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney before working with Médecins Sans Frontières in the field. He subsequently joined the World Bank, where he worked on health sector policy and financing, before transitioning into the pharmaceutical industry. He held roles at Eli Lilly at the affiliate level, then at Bristol Myers Squibb and Roche in senior positions, leading global data science teams supporting pipeline products and commercial launches, with expertise in health economics and outcomes research. He holds an MSc in biostatistics and research methods and a PhD in epidemiology.
At the Roche Venture Fund, Evans built a track record investing in European and UK life sciences companies and had previously co-invested alongside Sofinnova in several portfolio companies — giving him existing familiarity with the firm’s investment approach before joining as a partner.
At Sofinnova, Evans will focus on the firm’s Crossover Strategy, which targets late-stage private and public life sciences investments. His appointment also deepens Sofinnova’s senior partner bench in London as the firm continues to scale that strategy. Founded in 1972, Sofinnova has backed more than 500 companies over five decades and operates across the full life sciences investment lifecycle from seed through later-stage.
KEY QUOTES:
“David is exactly the kind of investor we look for at Sofinnova — exceptional scientific grounding, real-world clinical experience, and a strong investment instinct built over years at the frontier of healthcare. His appointment reflects our continued commitment to building a world-class team in the UK and across Europe, and we are delighted to welcome him to the partnership.”
Antoine Papiernik, Chairman and Managing Partner, Sofinnova Partners
“Sofinnova has built a truly differentiated platform in European life-sciences venture capital and being part of the team is an exciting opportunity to back the most innovative companies at a pivotal stage of their development. I am excited to bring my experience across clinical medicine, drug development, and investment to a team of this caliber, and look forward to contributing to Sofinnova’s mission of building transformative life-sciences companies in Europe and the UK.”
David Evans, Partner, Sofinnova Partners
