About
Dr. Rutter is Chairman of Synergenics, LLC, which owns and controls a portfolio of biotechnology companies at various stages of development. In his academic career, Dr. Rutter joined the University of California–San Francisco (UCSF) as head of the newly formed department of Biochemistry and Biophysics in 1968, and played a key role in developing UCSF into a major scientific institution. In research, he is particularly known for the discovery of the enzymes involved in the expression of DNA (RNA polymerases), the first cloning of the insulin gene, the cloning of hepatitis B virus (HBV), and formation of an HBV-like particle that provided the basis for a safe and protective vaccine. With 2 colleagues, Dr. Rutter founded Chiron in 1981, a pioneering biotech firm that developed the first recombinant vaccine (against HBV) with Merck and a process for manufacturing insulin from yeast with Novo-Nordisk. Chiron was the first to clone the AIDS (HIV) virus and to discover, clone, and sequence
Position in the VCSift Database
- • 75 investors hold the Chairman of the Board role in VCSift. Willam Rutter is one of them.
- • 7,285 investors are based in San Francisco, California, United States.
Data sourced from 410,343 investor profiles. Updated July 2026.
Investment Focus
- Stages
- seed
- Location
- San Francisco, US
Contact Information
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