LSN Announces Premier Partnering Plus For RESI Conference Series

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By Natasha Eldridge, RESI Conference Manager, LSN

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Life Science Nation is announcing “Premier Partnering Plus” as a new service to augment the RESI Conference series. Premier Partnering Plus provides deep insight into the investors and strategic partners that regularly attend RESI conferences in search of assets to partner with and invest in. LSN, the creator of RESI, sells a world class investor and strategic partner database to scientist-entrepreneurs and fundraising CEOs, and now RESI attendees can get partial access to that data and review the deep profiles that come with this one-of-a-kind database as part of the RESI partnering experience. This will make for better alignment for both sides of the meeting table as the sell side attendees will now have detailed investment and deal mandate information to help dial in who they need to meet with based on fit. This will include specifics on the sectors, subsectors, and indication interest, company and management team requirements, typical allocation size and the contact information and best way to reach out to an investor. Premier Partnering Plus users will not be just limited to the RESI Partnering message system to reach out to investors – now they will have the capability to reach out through the partnering system or with the direct contact info provided with the Premier Partnering Plus profile.

These investment mandates will be imported from the LSN Investor Platform that has more than 5,000 investors listed. This information is gathered by the LSN Research team, based on one-on-one conversations with the investors and updates gathered every 6 months. The RESI Premier Partnering is available for additional per company fee. This a first for integrating a world class investor & strategic data platform with a partnering application, and will make attendees who use the service much more selective, efficient and successful in their partnering activities.

Recent FDA Approval Is a Positive Signal for Personalized Medicine

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By Michael Quigley, VP of Investor Research, LSN

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Due to a recent FDA decision, immuno-oncology has proven to be a key area for personalized medicine approaches.  In this article, Next Phase will explore what this could mean for new technology development.

Many currently marketed cancer immunotherapies struggle due to high toxicity and response patterns that differ when compared to traditional therapies (1). Both in a research and clinical setting, identifying those patients most likely to respond to these and other new therapeutic approaches represents a massive opportunity for pharma companies.  This has given rise to increasing interest and investment in the field of companion diagnostics.

In May, the FDA approved Keytruda as the first immunotherapy cancer drug based on tumor specific molecular characteristics. While there have already been such approvals for genetic based markers, the FDA’s approval of Keytruda based on tumor specific characteristics offers shows the regulatory environment’s positive sentiment on other personalized approaches as well.  This is the first of such successes of a long developed shift away from the more traditional organ based approvals/research for cancer therapeutics.

While this shows obvious promise for large pharma companies developing these types of therapeutics it also shines a very positive light on companies looking at innovative ways of profiling tumor and patient subtypes.  These include including sequence-based diagnostics, multiple gene and protein signatures, multiplexed and digital PCR, microfluidic systems and novel signal detection approaches among others. These methods for identifying predictive biomarkers and patient stratification stand to move the field of immunotherapy forward, away from its current toxicity and efficacy issues and into an era of more personalized medicine.

Looking farther into the future implications of this approval is another positive sign into the early research current being done into what is known as “theranostics”. Where companion diagnostics are generally developed for an existing therapeutic agent the development of theranostics is a process involving the co-creation of therapeutics and a diagnostic to identify which patients will respond most positively. This is the next frontier for personalized medicine, where therapeutics are designed inherently to be effective in sub-populations of a disease or condition. Though this approach would potentially shrink the potential market for a new drug rather than aiming for “blockbuster” status, it also presents the opportunity to dramatically improve research and clinical trial efficiency for these compounds.

Overall this latest Keytruda approval provides a signal that the FDA is on board with this trend towards personalized medicine that researchers and drug developers have been moving towards for years.  In an industry that is so filled with risk and uncertainty, any form of reassurance from the regulatory environment is always welcome, and investors may see this as a positive signal for the sector.

  1. http://www.ascopost.com/issues/april-25-2016/immunotherapy-could-be-the-wave-of-the-future-but-problems-and-challenges-cannot-be-ignored/

Hot Investor Mandate 1: Financial Firm Creates $100 Million Evergreen Healthcare Fund For Clinical Stage Opportunities

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A financial firm based in Asia has created a healthcare-focused US$100 million evergreen fund. The firm seeks to participate in Series A to C rounds and is open to leading or following. Typical investments range from US$0.5 to 2 million, while larger investments can be considered on a case-by-case basis. The firm expects to make 4-5 new deals in the coming 12 months. The firm is currently seeking opportunities from the US and Canada.

The firm considers opportunities broadly across the healthcare field, including biomedicine, medical devices, diagnostics. The firm currently has an increased interest in healthcare IT. When it comes to overseas deals, the firm prefers products that have achieved prototype and clinical proof-of-concept. The firm is opportunistic in terms of disease areas.

The firm is looking for competent and experienced management teams. The firm does not require board representation after investment. As a financially-driven investor, the firm does not typically request regional rights, but it can provide assistance with finding local partners.

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

Hot Investor Mandate 2: Pharma-Backed Venture Fund Invests in First in Class Drug Opportunities

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A cross-border venture capital firm with offices in Cambridge, MA and in Tokyo, Japan is currently investing from its newest $80 million fund closed in 2017. Its LPs include pharmaceutical companies. Typically the firm makes an initial investment ranging from under $1 million to $3-6 million dependent on the company’s stage of development. The firm can allocate up to $16 million (20% of total) over the lifetime of a company. The firm invests in early-stage therapeutic companies worldwide, with a focus on opportunities in North America.

The firm only invests in therapeutics, and are primarily focused on companies with preclinical or clinical assets. Within therapeutics, all modalities are of interest. The firm may invest up to 18 months prior to IND, however require that a company has a lead asset that has been characterized. The firm will consider opportunities in any indication area.

The firm invests in teams with experienced, highly motivated teams with a strong background in either life science research or industry. The firm only invests in companies with technology that has the potential to be first in class.

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

Hot Investor Mandate 3: Canada Fund Looks Across North America For Medtech, Diagnostics and Healthcare IT

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An investment firm based in Toronto, Canada is actively looking for new investments in the life science sector, especially medical technology. The firm’s second fund focuses on pre and post Series A investments and has the ability to do follow-on funding. The investment size can range from $100K to over $1M and up to $2-4M with follow-on funding. The capital structure is flexible, especially as they are currently raising their third fund. The firm typically co-invests and will lead investments depending on the occasion and size of the round. Investment can be in form of equity, whereas convertible loan and other capital structures will be considered. The new fund looks to invest in 10-20 companies. The firm focuses on companies based in Canada, but it will also look at opportunities in the US.

In the life sciences, the firm is currently looking for new investments in the medical technology, diagnostics, and healthcare IT sectors with a particular interest in medical devices with a software component. The firm is interested in all classes of medical devices and is indication agnostic. The firm is focused on preclinical to clinical stage technology and is focused on technology that requires an FDA regulatory pathway. Thus, the firm is not interested in wearables or consumer connected devices. The firm will consider therapeutics companies from time-to-time, however, therapeutics is not the firm’s focus.

The firm focuses on investments in private companies with an experienced management team and growth potential. The firm will take a board seat based on case-by-case basis, though is not the requirement.

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

Hot Investor Mandate 4: Global Pharma Firm Seeks Assets in Oncology, Neurology, Cardio, Respiratory and Infectious Diseases

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A major Chinese pharmaceutical company is looking for any potential drug candidates that align with the company’s strategy. The firm is seeking to strengthen its R&D/manufacturing capability and portfolio/pipeline and is open to all kinds of collaboration models, including straight licensing, co-development, contract selling, equity investment, and M&A. The company is currently looking for assets globally with a focus on the US and Europe.

Early stage products or platform technology with high potential or clear differentiation in the following areas: Oncology, Neurology, Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular, Rheumatology and Inflammation, Respiratory Diseases, Infectious Diseases (except HIV), and Pediatric Diseases (except rare disease).  In addition, the firm is exploring emerging areas in oncology, such as immunotherapy, cell therapy, and precision medicine. In medical technology, the firm is interested in liquid biopsy, cancer diagnostics, and next generation sequencing, and would consider in-development and products.

The firm is looking for companies with capacity and experience in implementing R&D plans. The firm is interested in assets from the US, Europe or other countries, and intends to introduce the product to the Chinese market.

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

RESI Testimonials – Hear from the Folks Who Attended

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By Michael Quigley, VP of Market Research, LSN

mike-2RESI San Diego was another successful event for fundraising life science companies, investors and strategic partners. With a great deal of praise coming from those on both sides of the investment table, you can read the testimonials below to see for yourself what industry executives are saying about RESI.

 

Brian Frenzel, MBA: Membership Committee, Band of Angels; President, CEO and Director Tosk, Inc.

Congratulations on a great RESI meeting in San Diego last week. I have been attending biomedical conferences for longer than I’d like to admit – ABC, ACA, ACOG, ASA, ASCO, BIO, DMD, H&Q, JPM, MnM, PhRMA, and many others, some whose acronyms are slowly being lost to history.

The RESI meeting in San Diego was one of the best organized and most productive that I have ever attended. The event’s sole focus on early stage investments and fundraising along with the partnering system made it very easy to identify companies of interest and schedule meetings. RESI staff were always available to help. The energy level was very high, and I was delighted to see so many new companies, new technologies, and new investors in attendance. Not only did I fill every meeting slot, but extended it into lunch, the reception, the following day, and the following week. I am confident that several companies I met at RESI will yield new business relationships.

My hat’s off to you and the RESI staff that made it possible!

Gregory Stein MD, MBA: President and CEO Curtana Pharmaceuticals

Congratulations on running yet another successful RESI conference! I have attended several over the past 3 years and they just keep getting better. The partnering system makes it easy to identify leads and I always have a packed meeting schedule with potential investors and partners that I could not have otherwise found through the usual channels. While I did not see immediate success, you and I both know this is, in part, a numbers game and persistence pays. It has taken a lot of work, but this past March I closed with one investor group and in July I will close with another group that has committed to invest. From the recent San Diego conference, I have several new high-quality investor leads and partnering opportunities to follow-up on in the coming weeks. Given the enthusiastic response I received to Curtana’s story, I anticipate that we will continue to benefit from the relationships we have made at the RESI conferences.

Yao Ho MBA: Business Development Director LYFE Capital

Attending numerous RESI from a few years back, I can say that the events are getting increasingly better and a must go to event to meet quality companies. Attendees from the investor side has also been increasing in quantity and quality, almost feeling like a 1:1 attendee ratio. The partnering system is intuitive to use and makes identifying promising companies to meet quite easy. From the event I have met many new business relationships that I expect will flourish in not only in the business setting but also as friends. Most importantly the follow-up rate from meetings held at RESI is also quite high, proving to me that the quality and dedication of these companies are certainly a par above. The RESI team has always been helpful in addressing any concerns and helping build new leads. I am certain that we will be attending future RESI events and look forward to seeing RESI flourish. Congrats to the RESI team on making another great event!