Robert Elfont

1958 - 2025

Robert Elfont
04/11/1958 - 06/05/2025
Dr. Robert Myles Elfont, 67, of San Francisco, passed away, June 5, after a long illness.
Robert was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on April 11, 1958, to the late Ida (Lapin) and Charles Elfont. He earned dual undergraduate degrees in Biology (Neuropsychology) and English from the University of Pennsylvania where he was awarded a prestigious Thouron fellowship to study at the University of Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, England.
He began a combined MD and PhD degree program at Dartmouth Medical School and earned an MD and PHD in Neuroanatomy from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He completed his medical internship at Rochester General Hospital in New York followed by a residency in neurology at Johns Hopkins Hospital and a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neuroimmunology and Neurovirology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where he also served on the faculty as an Assistant Professor specializing in multiple sclerosis.
While at Johns Hopkins, he received the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Volunteer of the Year Award for the State of Maryland. He later joined the faculty of Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA, where his research focused on immune cell trafficking.
Over the course of more than 25 years in the biopharmaceutical industry, Dr. Elfont held several executive leadership roles. Most recently, he served as Chief Medical Officer at Appello Pharmaceuticals. His prior roles included Senior Vice-President, Head of Clinical Development and Pharmacovigilance at Adamas Pharmaceuticals as well as CMO/Vice President of Clinical Development for several biotech companies including PhotoThera, Avigen, and Medivation. Earlier in his career, he held senior medical director positions at Roche, Pfizer and Teva Neuroscience.
Dr. Elfont made substantive contributions to neuroscience, having authored numerous scientific publications and received many professional honors, awards, and research grants. He designed and oversaw numerous clinical trials for central nervous system drugs. As Chief Medical Officer at Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., he executed a highly successful Phase 2 proof of concept study in the treatment of peanut allergy that directly contributed to the company's IPO and launched its pivotal Phase 3 study.
In addition to his executive roles, Dr. Elfont established Strategic Clinical Development, LLC., through which he consulted for biotech, pharmaceutical, and venture capital firms.
Through this consultancy, he served as interim Chief Medical Officer for several emerging start-ups.
Robert approached his work with dedication and a deep sense of purpose. He was admired for his intellect, unwavering commitment to excellence, and the respect he showed to others.
Robert is survived by his wife, V'Anne Singleton. Together they shared a deep appreciation for the arts and were patrons of San Francisco Symphony and San Francisco Ballet. They supported many charitable organizations close to their hearts. They enjoyed traveling to new and favorite destinations to experience, learn, and relax.
Robert will be remembered by colleagues, friends, and family for his intellect, wisdom, quick wit, gentle humor, and kindness. Robert was admired for his strength of character, humility, honesty without concern for the outcome, and courage to make everything he worked on better. He cared about people, both his patients and his friends and would go out of his way to help others.
We have lost a scholar, an accomplished academic neurologist, and a gentleman.
Donations may be made in Robert's honor to the following organizations:
American Cancer Society; Colorectal Cancer Alliance; Doctors Without Borders