Amgen Veterans Launch $320 Million Life Science Venture Fund

Westlake Village BioPartners has launched its first $320 million venture fund to invest in life science and biotech companies. The newly formed investment firm in Westlake Village was founded by Dr. Beth Seidenberg, a former executive at Amgen Inc. and general partner at Menlo Park venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins. Dr. Sean Harper, executive vice president and head of research and development at Amgen, will join the firm in January. Westlake Village BioPartners will invest in both early-stage startups and select later-stage companies. “I am thrilled to launch a new fund dedicated to investing in life sciences and appreciate the support of our limited partners,” Seidenberg said in a statement. “This was the ideal time – both in my role at Kleiner Perkins and given the explosive growth of breakthroughs in science and medicine – to pursue my passion for life sciences and launch a fund with such an exceptional team with whom I’ve worked closely in prior roles.” Scott Ryles, chief operating officer at Kleiner Perkins, is Westlake Village BioPartners’ chief operating officer.