# James Topper
James N. Topper is an American venture capital investor, Managing General Partner at [Frazier Healthcare Partners](https://www.edgepedia.org/frazier-healthcare-partners), known for biopharmaceutical investments including Acerta Pharma, which [AstraZeneca](https://www.edgepedia.org/astrazeneca) bought in December 2015 for up to $7 billion, and Calistoga Pharmaceuticals, acquired by [Gilead Sciences](https://www.edgepedia.org/gilead-sciences) in 2011.[1](https://www.forbes.com/profile/james-topper/) • [2](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/) He joined Frazier in 2003, opened the firm's first California office that year, and has led or co-led investments in more than 60 companies over his tenure.[2](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/) Forbes placed him at rank 91 on its 2016 Midas List.[3](https://www.forbes.com/pictures/geji45fdke/6-james-topper/)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Role | Managing General Partner (also styled Managing Partner, Frazier Life Sciences)[1](https://www.forbes.com/profile/james-topper/) • [2](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/) |
| Joined Frazier | 2003; opened the firm's first California office with Patrick Heron[2](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/) |
| Education | B.S., University of Michigan; M.D. and Ph.D. in Biophysics, Stanford[2](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/) |
| Clinical training | Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease, Brigham and Women's Hospital; board certified in both[4](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27881497/) |
| Signature exits | Acerta Pharma majority stake to AstraZeneca, up to $7 billion (December 2015); Calistoga to Gilead (2011)[1](https://www.forbes.com/profile/james-topper/) |
| Midas List | 2011 and 2016 (rank 91 in 2016)[2](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/) • [3](https://www.forbes.com/pictures/geji45fdke/6-james-topper/) |
| Current public boards | NewAmsterdam Pharma (NAMS), Phathom Pharmaceuticals (PHAT)[5](https://fintool.com/app/research/companies/NAMS/people/james-topper) • [6](https://fintool.com/app/research/companies/PHAT/people/james-topper) |
## Education and early career
Topper trained as a physician-scientist. He holds a B.S. from the University of Michigan and earned both an M.D. and a Ph.D. in [Biophysics](https://www.edgepedia.org/biophysics) from Stanford University School of Medicine, completing postgraduate training in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease at [Brigham and Women's Hospital](https://www.edgepedia.org/brigham-and-womens-hospital) in Boston, with board certification in both disciplines.[4](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27881497/) • [2](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/) The firm's team page also credits him with more than 50 scientific publications and a Howard Hughes Scholars Award received at Stanford.[2](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/)
Before joining Frazier, he held operating roles in the biotechnology industry: vice president of biology at COR Therapeutics, head of cardiovascular research and development at Millennium Pharmaceuticals after its acquisition of COR, and head of Millennium San Francisco.[2](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/) He also served on the medical school faculties at Stanford and Harvard.[2](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/) A 2016 interview in Circulation, the [American Heart Association](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-heart-association) journal, describes him as having more than 25 years of experience building therapeutics companies.[4](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27881497/)
## Career at Frazier Healthcare Partners
Topper joined Frazier in 2003 and opened the firm's first California office the same year, together with [Patrick Heron](https://www.edgepedia.org/patrick-heron).[2](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/) He progressed from General Partner to Managing General Partner of the firm's life sciences practice; SEC-derived board records date his Managing General Partner title from 2005.[6](https://fintool.com/app/research/companies/PHAT/people/james-topper) Across more than 20 years as a General Partner and then Managing Partner, he has led or co-led investments in over 60 companies.[2](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/)
From October 2020 to November 2022 he also served as chief executive officer and chairman of Frazier Lifesciences Acquisition Corporation (FLAC), a Frazier-sponsored special purpose acquisition company.[5](https://fintool.com/app/research/companies/NAMS/people/james-topper)
## Notable investments and exits
The two deals most often attached to his name are Acerta Pharma B.V. and Calistoga Pharmaceuticals. Forbes credits him with a hand in Acerta's Series A round; in December 2015, AstraZeneca agreed to acquire a 55% majority stake in Acerta Pharma for a $2.5 billion upfront payment with a further $1.5 billion deferred payment, plus an option to acquire the remaining stake for approximately $3 billion more.[7](https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2015/AstraZeneca-enhances-long-term-growth-through-Oncology-investment-in-Acerta-Pharma.html) • [1](https://www.forbes.com/profile/james-topper/) He was a cofounder of Calistoga Pharmaceuticals, acquired by Gilead Sciences in 2011.[1](https://www.forbes.com/profile/james-topper/)
The firm's team page lists further led or co-led investments that were sold or taken public: Mavupharma (sold to AbbVie), Rempex, and Incline (sold to The Medicines Company), Alnara (sold to Lilly), Portola Pharmaceuticals (co-founder, NASDAQ: PTLA), CoTherix (sold to Actelion), Threshold Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: THLD), and [Alpine Immune Sciences](https://www.edgepedia.org/alpine-immune-sciences) (sold to Vertex).[2](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/)
## Boards and public positions
Topper currently represents Frazier on the boards of Architect Therapeutics, Attovia, Counterakt Therapeutics, Diagonal Therapeutics, Enlaza Therapeutics, Immutrin, NewAmsterdam Pharma (NASDAQ: NAMS), and Phathom Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: PHAT).[2](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/) His historical board roles include Acerta, Amunix, Calistoga, Entasis, Mavupharma, Rempex, Incline, Alnara, Portola, CoTherix, and Threshold.[5](https://fintool.com/app/research/companies/NAMS/people/james-topper)
Two current seats are at publicly traded companies with dated service records. He has been a non-executive director of [NewAmsterdam Pharma](https://www.edgepedia.org/newamsterdam-pharma) since November 2022 and was nominated in 2025 for a new four-year term ending at the close of the 2029 annual general meeting.[5](https://fintool.com/app/research/companies/NAMS/people/james-topper) He joined the Phathom Pharmaceuticals board in September 2022, after earlier service from January 2018 to May 2021, and was a Class III nominee at the 2025 annual meeting.[6](https://fintool.com/app/research/companies/PHAT/people/james-topper)
## Recognition
Forbes named Topper to its Midas List in 2011 and again in 2016, when he ranked 91 with Acerta Pharma, Portola Pharmaceuticals, and Calistoga Pharmaceuticals listed as his companies.[2](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/) • [3](https://www.forbes.com/pictures/geji45fdke/6-james-topper/) In 2013, Forbes recognized him as one of the top 10 healthcare investors.[4](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27881497/) Sources differ on how many Midas appearances he has: the 2016 list itself describes him as a debutant, while the firm's team page and the Circulation interview both state he was named in 2011 as well.[3](https://www.forbes.com/pictures/geji45fdke/6-james-topper/) • [2](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/) • [4](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27881497/)
## Recent developments
Three dated changes mark the post-2023 record. His AnaptysBio directorship ended in September 2023, and his Alpine Immune Sciences board seat ended in May 2024, the latter following Alpine's sale to Vertex.[6](https://fintool.com/app/research/companies/PHAT/people/james-topper) • [2](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/) In 2025 he was nominated for renewed terms at both of his public-company boards, NewAmsterdam and Phathom.[5](https://fintool.com/app/research/companies/NAMS/people/james-topper) • [6](https://fintool.com/app/research/companies/PHAT/people/james-topper) His current board roster includes the private biopharmaceutical companies Attovia, Counterakt, Diagonal, Enlaza, Immutrin, and Architect Therapeutics.[2](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/)
## References
1. [James Topper — Forbes Midas List profile](https://www.forbes.com/profile/james-topper/)
2. [James N. Topper, M.D., Ph.D. — Frazier Life Sciences team page](https://frazierls.com/team/james-n-topper/)
3. [6. James Topper — Top Biotech Investors On The 2016 Midas List](https://www.forbes.com/pictures/geji45fdke/6-james-topper/)
4. [Discovering and Developing Successful Cardiovascular Therapeutics: A Conversation With James N. Topper, MD, PhD (Circulation, 2016)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27881497/)
5. [James Topper — NewAmsterdam Pharma (NAMS) Executive Profile](https://fintool.com/app/research/companies/NAMS/people/james-topper)
6. [James Topper — Phathom Pharmaceuticals (PHAT) Executive Profile](https://fintool.com/app/research/companies/PHAT/people/james-topper)
7. [AstraZeneca enhances long term growth through Oncology investment in Acerta Pharma (astrazeneca.com)](https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2015/AstraZeneca-enhances-long-term-growth-through-Oncology-investment-in-Acerta-Pharma.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Economics and business › Founders, operators, and investors › Venture and growth investors › Life-science venture and company creation › Biotech venture capital partners › Titles A to J*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Sep 30, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license