Tag Archives: pharma

Hot Investor Mandate 1: Korean VC Firm with Pharma Affiliation Seeks to Invest in Early Stage Therapeutics Assets, Most Interested in Oncology and Autoimmune Disease

5 Jul

A Seoul-based venture capital firm founded in 2015 and affiliated with a leading pharmaceutical company in South Korea closed their first fund in 2016 and has recently raised a second fund of approximately $60M USD. The firm has made 8 investments to date, in 3 Korean and 5 USA-based companies. The firm continues to seek global opportunities. The firm generally participates in financings of Series B and beyond, participating in Series A rounds on a case-by-case basis. However, the firm has started to look for earlier stage opportunities and is most interested in spin-out assets and forming new companies in South Korea. Within this angle, the firm is highly interested in companies who are interested in entering the Korean market and looking to leverage on the capital and clinical infrastructure in South Korea.

The firm is focused on therapeutics companies and does not invest in medical devices, diagnostics, or digital health. The firm is open to considering assets of very early stages, even those as early as lead optimization phase. The firm considers various modalities, including antibodies, small molecules, and cell therapy. Currently, the firm is not interested in gene therapy. Indication-wise, the firm is most interested in oncology and autoimmune diseases but has recently looked at fibrotic diseases and certain rare diseases as well.

With regards to companies raising a Series A round, the firm prefers working with experienced management teams with high-profile scientific founders being involved. The firm incorporates a different strategy depending on the company’s headquarters. For companies based in South Korea, the firm serves as a hands-on, active investor and seeks board representation. In the USA, the firm prefers to be a more passive investor and generally seeks to co-invest with established venture capital firms that have a footprint in the USA.

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email mandates@lifesciencenation.com.

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Hot Investor Mandate 4: Corporate Venture Arm of Global Pharma Seeks Therapeutics Companies with Focus on Pre-IND Assets in All Indications

21 Jun

A financially driven corporate life science venture fund of a global pharmaceutical company, invests with the purpose of fostering innovation, driving significant patient benefit, and generating superior returns by creating and investing in innovative life science companies at various stages of their development, independent from the corporate’s strategy. The firm has offices in USA and Europe, and focuses its investment activities in these countries. The firm typically makes equity investments in early venture rounds, investing up to $25 million over multiple financing rounds with 6-8 investments in any given year.

The firm invests in therapeutics with a focus on pre-IND assets and Series A investment rounds. The firm is interested in all classes and indications of innovative therapeutics with paradigm shifting potential.

The firm invests exclusively in privately held companies and aims to be a lead or co-lead with a director position.

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email mandates@lifesciencenation.com.

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Hot Investor Mandate 4: Japanese Pharmaceutical with Established USA Subsidiary Seeks Innovative Early-Stage Therapeutics Assets in Neurodegenerative & Neurodevelopmental Diseases

14 Jun

A multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan is actively looking globally for opportunities to in-license cutting-edge, early stage therapeutic assets. The pharma also has a large USA-based subsidiary. Sponsored research may also be considered with a focus on Japan-based academic institutions.

The firm’s external R&D is focused on both neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases including Parkinson’s disease, autism, Rett Syndrome, fragile X, and lysosomal storage diseases. The firm is interested in platform technology and early stage hits/seeds in CNS/neurology. This includes new MOAs such as gene therapy, stem cell therapy, BBB penetrating biologics and monoclonal antibodies acting on new targets. The firm is also interested in later-stage assets (phase III to on the market) in diabetes, immunology, and infectious diseases for the Asia markets.

The firm is looking for assets that would be strategic a fit with its current portfolio. The firm is willing to negotiate regional rights based each therapeutic field. For example, in immunology and neurology, the firm would prefer both US and Asia rights. In diabetes, infectious diseases, and other areas, the firm can request Asia rights only.

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email mandates@lifesciencenation.com.

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Hot Investor Mandate 3: Joint Initiative Launched by a Leading Pharma and VC Firm Invests in Digital Health Companies with USA Focus

7 Jun

A digital health investment company launched in 2016 by a leading pharma and venture capital firm in the industry focuses on the digital health space ranging from therapeutics to diagnostic solutions in areas such as: precision medicine, behavioral health, wearables, and data analytics. The firm is seeking to make 6-8 new investments within the next two years. The firm’s investments range dependent on the opportunity, and focuses on investing in Seed to Series A rounds. For earlier stage companies, the firm has the ability to both lead and co-invest. The firm focuses on companies based in the U.S., but is open to invest globally.

The firm focuses on digital health technologies and solutions that aim to improve patient care and lifestyle. The firm is especially interested in technology with a software component, such as those that control patient care through monitoring medications and therapies, as well as technology with a big data component. The firm will only look at devices if they have an information component and/or generate data. The firm is also interested in technology with machine-learning applications. The firm is not interested in pure EMR or hospital IT systems. Based on all the criteria, the firm is indication agnostic.

The firm is a very active investor that seeks to be fully involved in their portfolio companies. The firm will take a board seat after the investment and will help companies fill management teams, if necessary.

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email mandates@lifesciencenation.com.

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Hot Investor Mandate 2: Japanese Pharma Launches New Global Initiative to Invest in Early-Stage Companies

26 Apr

A wholly-owned subsidiary of a global pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Japan is focused on developing innovative products in CNS, dermatology, and pain management. In particular, the pharma has established a strong global presence in transdermal patch products, and has several established products on the market.

The pharmaceutical company is seeking novel products for potential in-licensing and partnering opportunities to strengthen their current pipeline. In addition, the company is unveiling a new initiative through which the company will provide investment to early-stage technologies for which the company could help leverage clinical development. The size of investment will largely depend on the company’s stage of development, but the company is open to invest in seed to mid-stage companies. The company is seeking global opportunities.

With the new early-stage investment initiative, the company is interested in investing and partnering beyond the current focus areas: pain, CNS, and dermatology. Because of the company’s deep expertise in transdermal technology, the company can add significant values to companies with NCEs which can be delivered by patches. The company is also interested in reformulation and repositioning opportunities. The company will consider technologies as early as in development/pre-clinical.

The company has no specific management team requirements. The company has a development and regulatory team that can help companies with advancing towards FDA approval as well as Asian market entry, particularly Japan. Because the company has many resources and support to offer to early-stage companies, experienced management team and successful track record would be a plus, but not a requirement.

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email mandates@lifesciencenation.com.

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Hot Investor Mandate 3: Korean Pharmaceutical Company Seeks In-Licensing Opportunities at All Stages, with Strong Interest in NCEs and First-In-Class Drugs

26 Apr

A large pharmaceutical company headquartered in Seoul, South Korea specializes in developing, manufacturing, and supplying pharmaceutical products that contribute to the health and happiness of humankind, including resistant bacteria, malignant tumors, Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, and aging. The company’s strengths lie in the development of raw vitamins, probiotics, and antimicrobials, as well as strong market share in clinics and hospitals, and robust experience in marketing, promotion, distribution, and R&D.

The company works with global pharmaceutical companies to manufacture original prescription drugs and utilizes is internal synthesis capacity to manufacture a wide variety of generic prescription drugs. The company is currently expanding into functional health food, medical device, cosmetic, and beverage industries and evolving into a total healthcare company of global proportions. The company is actively seeking early to late-stage drugs globally for in-licensing, co-development, or acquisition.

The company is seeking early to late-stage therapeutic drugs with strong interests in these following indications: oncology, CNS, gastrointestinal (GI), autoimmune, endocrine and metabolic diseases. The company is most interested in NCEs and first/best-in-class MOA.

The company seeks to partner with teams with strong scientific expertise who are working on novel technologies, and is flexible in terms of distribution rights.

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email mandates@lifesciencenation.com.

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Hot Investor Mandate 2: VC Arm of Japanese Pharma Invests in Early-Stage Therapeutics and Platform Technologies in a Wide Range of Indications, Including CNS

19 Apr

A corporate venture subsidiary of a Japan pharmaceutical is looking to provide equity capital to seed and venture stage companies in the life science space, and invests across North America & Europe. The firm is looking to provide companies with $5 million over the lifetime of the investment and plans on making 2-3 investments over the next year.

The firm is currently looking for companies developing Therapeutics and Platform Technologies. The firm is looking for companies in this sector working with small molecules, vaccines and biotherapeutics. Indications of interest include nephrology, cardiovascular, immunology, metabolic disease the firm is especially interested in companies working with therapies for CNS disorders such as ALS, inflammation, fibrosis, NASH and orphan indications. Ideal companies will have assets in preclinical stages of development.

The firm strongly prefers that the company has a strong management team with experience in the industry. The firm historically has only invested as a co-investor although they are capable and looking to take a lead position if the correct opportunity arises. The firm is looking to allocate to companies that will eventually be able to partner long term with its parent company.

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email mandates@lifesciencenation.com.

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