Next Phase Newsletter

A family office-funded virtual pharma company in the US is looking to make 2 equity investments of $5-$6 million into early stage biopharmaceutical companies over the next 6-9 months. The firm prefers to invest into companies located in the North Eastern United States. The firm also plans to utilize its parent company’s efficient development program to develop a data package that will be the basis for a license/partnership with a larger company.

The firm is primarily interested in Therapeutics companies with particular interest in small molecules and peptides. The firm is opportunistic in terms of indication and will consider orphan and niche diseases however there must be a significant unmet medical need for the product to be considered. In terms of phase of development, the firm is not interested in companies in the discovery stage and will only consider companies that are at least well involved in animal trials and looking to move into human trials within a short timeframe. The firm will also consider investing into companies that are in clinical trials up to Phase IIA. Ideal companies will have a clear path ahead of them in terms of proving biological activity and/or efficacy well accepted endpoints or surrogate markers in clinical trials.

The firm is only looking to invest in virtual companies. The firm is also looking to have an active role on the company’s management team. While the firm is not looking to replace the original management, they are not looking to be a passive investor either.

A venture capital company formed in 2005 with offices in the East and West coast is currently seeking to invest in the life science space. The firm currently manages two funds with its most recent fund having closed at $450 million in 2007. The firm is looking to make equity investments ranging from $10-$25 million over the lifetime of the investment. The firm looks for companies primarily in the United States, and some select opportunities in Europe. The firm plans to make between 1-5 investments over the next year.

The firm is interested in sectors of Biotech Therapeutics, Diagnostics, Medical Devices, Life Science Tools and Healthcare IT. In the Therapeutics space the firm is looking for both small molecule and biologics companies that are 1 year from entering clinical trials or later with a preference for companies that have in human data. The firm is generally open to all indications but is especially interested in areas of Oncology, Immunology and Orphan Diseases. For Medical Devices, Diagnostics and Life Science Tools the firm prefers to make later stage investments into companies that have significant in human data or have already been commercialized.

The firm is looking for experienced management teams and generally requires a board seat. The firm looks to take company through significant value inflection points acting as a very hands on investor. The firm almost always leads or co-leads investment rounds.

A hybrid family office and operating company based in the Southeastern United States is looking to make direct investments in the life science space. The firm is funded and led by a successful life science entrepreneur who started and sold several companies in their career. The firm can make investments ranging from approximately $500,000 to $100 million into companies and due to its funding structure has no requirements for holding period or capital structure. The firm makes investments in the forms of equity, controlling interest, in-licensing, MBO/LBO, growth capital and is also willing to co-invest. The firm is looking for companies located around the globe and makes around 5-15 investments in a given year.

The family office is looking for companies in sectors of Biotech Therapeutics and Diagnostics, Medtech, Heathcare IT, R&D Services, and Biotech Other. The firm is willing to consider all indications including orphan diseases; though they have some additional interest/experience is areas of Women’s Health, GI, Oncology, Cardiovascular, and Personalized Medicine including Proteomics and Genomics. The firm is most interested in companies that are in Phase II or later, nearing commercialization where the firm is capable of utilizing its operating company to scale up the company’s sales, marketing and distribution. That being said, the firm has made earlier stage investments in the past and is open to considering highly innovative and compelling early stage companies. The firm is also interested in companies developing consumables/reagents, service providers, food and nutraceuticals.

The firm looks to work with management teams with experience and grit and generally looks to take a board seat although it is not a requirement. The firm looks to leverage the use of its operating company to assist the company’s sales marketing and distribution efforts as well as providing assistance in operations management.

A family office that makes direct venture investments in healthcare and technology startups is currently seeking new opportunities. The fund was established by successful entrepreneurs and investors to meet the need for seed and early stage funding for life science and healthcare companies. The fund has an evergreen structure and can allocate up to $3M (in equity or loans) per company.  The fund seeks to invest in companies based in the US. The fund is actively seeking new investments and looks to make about 2 allocations in the next 6-9 months.

In the life science space the fund is currently seeking to invest in early stage medical devices. The fund is opportunistic in terms of subsectors and indications. However, the fund is particularly interested in dental devices and mobile technology.

The family office requires a board seat in each portfolio company and seeks companies with a strong management teams who are technical experts in the relevant technology.

The corporate venture capital arm of a global contract research organization (CRO) has the ability to allocate anywhere from $100,000 to $2 million of equity capital to companies. However, the arm only invests in opportunities where it can leverage its CRO services as a piece of the investment, and as such, looks to tailor its CRO services to the needs of its partners, helping them to reach key value-added milestones. The firm will consider opportunities worldwide, and plans to be involved with 6-10 companies over the next 6-9 months.

The corporate VC is willing to consider making investments into companies developing medical devices, diagnostics, and therapeutics that are able to utilize their parent company’s CRO services to advance their product into or through clinical trials. Currently, they are most interested in companies developing therapeutics and biologics with a lead asset anywhere from 6-9 months pre-IND, to Phase III of clinical trials. The arm is completely opportunistic in terms of subsector and indication, and is willing to consider companies targeting orphan indications.

The corporate VC often acts as a co-investor, and generally does not require a board seat. Despite not being active on the board, the firm is a long-term investor and looks to provide market, development, and regulatory insight and strategic advice into selected companies.