Pappas Ventures, a life sciences investor based in Durham, N.C., has appointed L. Patrick Gage, PhD, to the company's scientific advisory board.

Gage has extensive experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry, overseeing the development of more than a dozen marketed biologics and vaccines, as well as several small molecule drugs. During his 18-year career at Hoffmann-La Roche, he held several leadership roles in research management, including service as vice president of exploratory research. Gage then joined Genetics Institute and ultimately served as president after Wyeth (now Pfizer) acquired the company. He was then named president of Wyeth Research, taking responsibility for global pharmaceutical and vaccine R&D, as well as global biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

Gage also founded enGage Biotech Consulting in 2003 to focus on guiding the development of new biopharmaceutical products and companies. In addition to his consulting work, he currently serves as chairman of Cytokinetics and chairman of Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals. He has previously served as chairman for PDL BioPharma and Adnexus Therapeutics.