# David Donabedian

> David H. Donabedian is a Boston-based company builder, investor, and scientist by training. He co-founded Newleos Therapeutics and served as its founding president and CEO before moving to an advisory role in October 2025. His earlier work includes founding leadership at Axial Therapeutics, DEM BioPharma, and Solu Therapeutics, alongside corporate strategy and venture roles at GSK and AbbVie.

- **Role:** Co-founder and Advisor at Newleos Therapeutics
- **Organizations:** Newleos Therapeutics, Longwood Fund, Axial Therapeutics, DEM BioPharma, Solu Therapeutics, ImmuneID, Alcyone Therapeutics, Neela Therapeutics, AbbVie, GlaxoSmithKline, Surface Logix, Accenture
- **Education:** BA in Chemistry, Saint Anselm College, PhD in Polymer Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Lowell, MBA, University of North Carolina
- **Known for:** Helped launch Axial with a $19.15 million Series A in 2016., Helped raise DEM’s $70 million initial financing and assemble its team and lab arrangements., Helped raise Solu’s $31 million seed round and assemble its team and lab arrangements.

## Career timeline

- **1998** — Co-authored a Macromolecules paper on acylation of pullulan with Stephen P. McCarthy.
- **Before Longwood** — Held senior roles at Accenture, Surface Logix, GlaxoSmithKline, and AbbVie; exact dates not established from primary biographies.
- **2016** — Co-founder and CEO at Axial Biotherapeutics, which launched with a $19.15 million Series A.
- **2022-06** — Co-founder and startup CEO of DEM BioPharma at its $70 million financing announcement.
- **2022-09** — Nenad Grmusa succeeded him at DEM; Donabedian continued as advisor.
- **2023-08** — Solu debuted with $31 million seed financing; Donabedian served as co-founder and startup CEO.
- **2023-09** — Philip Vickers succeeded him at Solu; Donabedian continued as advisor.
- **2024-06** — Appeared on the Windsor Bux podcast to discuss company-building and his career.
- **2025-02** — Newleos debuted with $93.5 million Series A financing under his founding leadership.
- **2025-10** — Received Goldman Sachs entrepreneurial recognition; transitioned to advisor at Newleos when Timothy Noyes became president and CEO.

## Achievements

- Helped launch Axial with a $19.15 million Series A in 2016.
- Helped raise DEM’s $70 million initial financing and assemble its team and lab arrangements.
- Helped raise Solu’s $31 million seed round and assemble its team and lab arrangements.
- Helped negotiate Newleos’ Roche license, build its team, and close a $93.5 million Series A.
- Recognized by Goldman Sachs at its 2025 Builders and Innovators Summit.

## Latest updates

- **2025-10** — October 21: Timothy Noyes succeeded him as Newleos president and CEO; Donabedian continued as advisor.
- **2025-10** — October 15: Newleos announced his Goldman Sachs recognition at the 2025 Builders and Innovators Summit.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-donabedian-73050a

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/david-donabedian
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-11