In center frame, from left: Biotech investor Boris Nikolic; Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime companion of Jeffrey Epstein; an unidentified individual; and Sam Jaradeh, Nikolic’s husband.Illustration: Camille MacMillin/STAT; Source photo: Department of Justice

Damian Garde is a reporter at large, live and feature journalism, covering the global drug industry and contributing to STAT’s industry-leading events.

Boris Nikolic’s career looked to be in tatters. After his close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein came to light in 2019, the well-connected biotech investor resigned from boards and was forced to unwind his successful venture fund as the industry appeared to distance itself from him over his association with the convicted child sex offender.

But one of the most influential venture capitalists in the biotech industry quietly stayed loyal to Nikolic for years afterward, shepherding a comeback for him despite continued revelations about his deep ties to Epstein, according to seven people familiar with the matter.

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Alexis Borisy, who has steered billions of dollars over a lengthy career as an investor, helped Nikolic launch a fund of his own and raise more than $100 million in 2024 and 2025, five of the people said. Borisy used his high-profile venture firm, Curie.Bio, to vouch for Nikolic, who invested in at least one startup in the fund’s portfolio, the people said. 

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