Vivo Capital, fresh off raising $750 million for its eight fund, has effectively straddled the Pacific, investing in life sciences in US and China. Managing Partner Chen Yu, MD, shares Vivo’s story and explains how US Medtech start-ups stand to benefit from China’s soaring health care sector.
Chen Yu, MD, MBA
Managing Partner
Vivo Capital
Chen Yu, M.D., M.B.A. is a Managing Partner based in Palo Alto who joined Vivo in 2004. At Vivo, Dr. Yu invests in both private and public pharmaceutical and medical device companies in the US and China. Dr. Yu has extensive operating experience with leadership roles at both private and public companies, including Sagent Pharmaceuticals (SGNT), China KangHui (KH), and aQuantive (AQNT). Notably, Dr. Yu has played a leading industry role in facilitating cross border deals between emerging market and US healthcare companies. As Chief Business Officer at China KangHui (KH), a leading China based orthopedic company, he helped take the company public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2010 and ultimately led negotiations during the sale to Medtronic for $816 MM in 2012. Dr. Yu also served as Chief Operating Officer at Sagent Pharmaceuticals (SGNT), which was acquired by Nichi-Iko for $763 M in 2016. Dr. Yu currently serves or has served on the boards of several life science companies in both the US and China, including Kala (KALA), Nabriva (NBRV), Rempex (Acquired by MDCO), Outpost Medicine(US), Sentre Heart (US), Jian Rui Bao (China), and GMT Medical (China). Other representative investments include Zai Labs, Trauson (acquired by Stryker for $764 MM), Durata (acquired by Actavis for $675M), RiverVision (acquired by Horizon), Achillion (ACHN), Cubist (CBST), and Ocera (OCRX).
Dr. Yu is also active in the community, including serving on the California Leadership Council for the Nature Conservancy and the Fund Development Committee for the California chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. He was also previously a member of the Stanford Medical School Alumni Board of Governors. Dr. Yu received his M.D. and M.B.A. from Stanford University and graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Biology from Harvard University.
