Stelios Papadopoulos
Stelios Papadopoulos is a scientist, investor, and entrepreneur best known for his involvement in biotechnology and co-founding the cancer research company Exelixis, where he has been serving as a director since 1994 and Chair of the Board in 1998. He received his MS degree in physics, his MBA in finance, and his PhD in biophysics from New York University.
Prior to 1985, Papadopoulos was a part of the faculty of the Department of Cell Biology at New York University Medical Center. He was also the co-founder of biopharmeceutical company Anadys Pharmaceuticals Inc. He served as a member of the board of directors there from 2000 to 2011 and as its chairman in 2011. He has also served as a member of the board of directors for several other companies as well, including Regulus Therapeutics Inc. in 2008, Biogen Inc. since 2020, Eucrates Biomedical Acquisition Corp. from 2008 to 2023, Cellzome Inc. in 2012, and BG Medicine Inc. from 2003 to 2018.
In 1987, Papadopoulos worked as an investment banker at PaineWebber from Drexel Burnham Lambert where he was an analyst in the Equity Research Department. He worked there for 13 years, and then moved to Cowen & Co., LLC in 2000. He retired as Vice Chairman of Cowen & Co., LLC in 2006.
In 2025, Papadopoulos was appointed to biopharmaceutical company Ovid Therapeutics Inc.’s Board of Directors. The company is dedicated to developing small-molecule medicines to treat several brain disorders. He will also be a member of Ovid’s Audit and Compensation Committee.