John A.

AveXis’ Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Mr. Carbona, has been with the company through all phases – from its inception and formation, as well as its continued progression to the forefront of gene therapy. Appointed as BioLife’s Chief Executive Officer in April 2012, Mr. Carbona played an integral role in creating and developing the company’s strategic move from a cryogenic stem cell laboratory to a clinic-stage biotech. This was accomplished by negotiating early-stage strategic alliances that uniquely paired the Dallas start-up with established corporate entities, academic researchers, and their respective universities. Mr. Carbona is the Managing Partner of Carbona Capital, LLC, founded in 1998, and focused on angel-stage investments in privately-owned entities. The mission as an early-stage venture capital firm has been to identify, invest in, mentor and develop companies that will redefine success in their own niche. Carbona Capital has invested in a wide variety of companies, targeting no specific geographic area or market segment. After graduating university with a pre-medical science degree and forgoing his desire to become a dentist, Mr. Carbona taught high school biology before beginning his business career as a sales executive with Mead Johnson, a division of Bristol Myers. Mr. Carbona worked with Yale New Haven Hospital in developing new infant formulas and later at Stryker Corporation under the legendary John W. Brown. Relocating from the Northeast to Texas, Mr. Carbona’s interest, aptitude and merit in the manufacturing industry propelled him from a sales representative of a struggling one-product company to President and CEO of an international medical company. In 1984, Mr. Carbona joined Cardio Systems after leaving Stryker, and built the company over time to a sales and manufacturing company making critical care beds, anti-decubitus mattresses and beds, and electrophysiology tilting tables. After only eight years, Mr. Carbona developed and patented over 20 new and innovative products, created a sales and service force of 500, built a fully vertically-integrated manufacturing and R&D facility, and opened 71 domestic and 20 European offices (in Germany, England, Ireland, UK and France). Mr. Carbona held or co-held six patents and 30 trademarks in his name which were sold in a $500M industry roll-up sponsored by Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co. in 1998. As a board member of Pontio Communications, a facilities-based wholesale supplier of high-speed transport, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), and broadband network services, Mr. Carbona was part of the team that pioneered privatization of public utilities in Texas. In 1999, Mr. Carbona aided in the sale of Pontio to El Paso Gas, a Fortune 100 company, for almost $200M. Known for his innovative marketing and sales approaches, 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. He earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of South Florida. A native of Long Beach, NY, Mr. Carbona was a competitive swimmer and ocean lifeguard growing up. He was also inducted into the American Powerboat Association Hall of Fame in 1991 for winning the United States title in ocean racing. Among all of his awards and accomplishments, Mr. Carbona is proudest of his two civilian accommodations given to him for citizen’s arrests. Mr. Carbona is the son and grandson of NY policemen, is unmarried, and splits his time between Dallas, Texas and Ft. Myers, Florida.