About Us
Carbona Capital is is a private equity firm founded in 1998 by John A. Carbona, focusing on early “Angel Stage” investments across diverse sectors. We have an extensive investment history, with a strong commitment to conservative, disciplined growth.
About John A. Carbona
Biography
From high school biology teacher to biotechnology pioneer, John A. Carbona built a career blending science, leadership, and entrepreneurship for over 40 years.
In the late 1980’s, John moved to Dallas, Texas, to join Cardio Systems, a small medical manufacturing firm specializing in wound care, after short tenures at Mead Johnson & Stryker. He rapidly rose to become CEO, leading the company through exponential expansion to 90 offices worldwide and building a vertically integrated manufacturing center in Dallas. Under his leadership, CSI became a major player in chronic wound care solutions before being acquired in 1998 by BRS in a strategic industry $500 million roll-up. During this time, John was credited with numerous patents and trademarks in the medical field, reflecting his deep commitment to innovation manufacturing and patient care.
As a board member of Pontio Communications, a facilities-based wholesale supplier of high-speed transport, Mr. Carbona was part of the team that pioneered privatization of public utilities in Texas. In 1999, he aided in the sale of Pontio to El Paso Gas, a Fortune 100 company, for almost $200 million.
Known for his innovative marketing and sales approaches and a unparalleled ability to get things done, Mr. Carbona originated the use of cross-marketing alliances, shared revenue agreements, and direct advertising within the health care industry, which are all now common practices. John holds a Bachelors of Pre-Medical Sciences in Biology from USF.
Forming AveXis in 2011 a gene therapy company dedicated to treating rare genetic neurological disorders. Under John’s guidance, and with the licensing of scientific work from Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio and RegenX Bio, AveXis developed a groundbreaking gene therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a devastating and often deadly disease affecting infants. AveXis became a international biotech success story, culminating in its acquisition by Novartis in 2018 for $8.7 billion, the largest biotech deal of its time. To date some 5,000 children have been treated and have survived and flourished, thanks in part to John and his team his team in Dallas and Ohio and Paris, France. Unusual for the time, Nationwide Children’s Hospital in addition to upfront and milestone payments, also received an equity position in AveXis, a hallmark of Carbona’s creativity.
In 2018 AveXis went public as NASDAQ:AVXS , underwritten by Goldman Sachs & Co.
In 2019, AveXis’s first gene therapy drug (Zolgensma) received regulatory approval in the United States and, with a list price of $2.125 million per patient, became the most expensive drug in the world.
Zolgensma is now approved in more than 51 countries and more than 5000 patients have been treated with Zolgensma globally, fulfilling John’s dream of doing something significant for society – a wish of his mother fulfilled.
“From altar boy and high school class president to ocean lifeguard, biology teacher, inventor, and pioneering force in biotechnology, now husband and father, John A. Carbona has spent over 45 years forging a career at the intersection of science, leadership, and entrepreneurship”.
Cardio Systems
In the early 1990s, John moved to Dallas, Texas, to join Cardio Systems, a medical manufacturing firm specializing in wound care after his time at Stryker and Mead Johnson. He rapidly rose to become CEO, leading the organization through exponential expansion to 90 offices worldwide. Under his leadership, Cardio Systems became a major player in chronic wound care solutions before being acquired in 1998 by Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co. in a strategic industry roll-up. During this time, John was credited with numerous patents and trademarks in the medical field, reflecting his deep commitment to innovation and patient care.
Pontio Communications
“As a board member guiding a consortium of experienced investors, John played a key role in Pontio Communications—a facilities-based wholesale provider of high-speed transport, DSL, and broadband network services. He was instrumental in the company’s pioneering efforts to privatize public utility infrastructure in Texas. In 1999, under his leadership, Pontio was successfully sold to El Paso Gas, a Fortune 100 company, in a transaction valued at nearly $200 million.”
Marketing Innovation
Known for his innovative marketing and sales approaches and unparalleled ability to get things done, John originated the use of cross-marketing alliances, shared revenue agreements, and direct advertising within the healthcare industry, which are now common practices. Nationwide Children’s Hospital realized a $36M gain in a unique and creative offer designed by Carbona when forming AveXis with limited capital. He earned a Bachelor of Premedical Science in Biology from USF.
- Founder and Managing Partner, Carbona Capital, LLC
- Independent Director, Compass Bank Young Executive Board
- Independent Director, American Heart Association
- Independent Director, Humanetics II
- Independent Director, Waller Creek Communications
- Independent Director, Miles for Monte
- Member, PETA, American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT), Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (FSMA), APBA, USLA, Republican Party, Roman Catholic Church
Founding AveXis
“In 2011, John Carbona founded AveXis, a gene therapy company focused on treating rare and life-threatening genetic neurological disorders. Under his leadership, and through the strategic licensing of research from Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio and RegenxBio, AveXis developed a groundbreaking treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)—a fatal condition affecting infants.
AveXis quickly emerged as a global biotechnology success story, culminating in its 2018 acquisition by Novartis for $8.7 billion—the largest biotech transactions of its time. The unsung hero of this story is a young girl, “E” who received the pioneering injection on May 13, 2014, paving the way for future generations afflicted with SMA to live normally.
Going Public and Drug Approval
In 2018, AveXis went public as NASDAQ: AVXS. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Jefferies LLC, and B of A Merrill Lynch acted as joint book-running managers. BMO Capital Markets Corp. acted as lead manager. In 2019, AveXis’s first gene therapy drug (Zolgensma) received regulatory approval in the US and, with a list price of $2.125 million per injection, it became the most expensive drug in the world. In May 2020, the drug was conditionally approved in the European Union.
Global Impact
Zolgensma is now approved in more than 51 countries, and more than 5,000 patients have been treated with Zolgensma globally, fulfilling John’s dream of doing something significant for society—a wish of his mother fulfilled.
Personal Life and Philanthropy
John Carbona was born and raised in Long Beach, New York, where he developed an early passion for the ocean and competition. A standout swimmer, he captained his high school team and served as an ocean lifeguard during the summers. His drive and fearlessness later led him to offshore powerboat racing, where he earned the prestigious US championship title piloting Panama Jack—an achievement that earned him induction into the American Powerboat Association Hall of Fame in 1990.
John’s energy is boundless. Today, he is an avid alpine skier who regularly qualifies for the national championships. He enjoys road cycling, and those who know him best recognize his deep passion for motorcycling through the mountainous landscapes of Europe & the U.S.
John is married to a French woman, and together they are raising two young children. He draws strength and purpose from his Roman Catholic faith, which guides his philanthropic efforts. His charitable work spans continents, from supporting a women’s hospital in rural Nigeria to funding the reconstruction of Long Beach’s Lifeguard Pavilion after Superstorm Sandy.
Proud of his heritage, John is the grandson of Italian and Irish immigrants who helped shape New York. He comes from a long line of New York police officers, including his father and grandfather. He holds two civilian commendations for acts of bravery in making citizen’s arrests—awards he humbly acknowledges. But above all, John considers his greatest achievement to be his young family.
