Investor Fireside Chat 

13 Jun

By Momo Yamamoto, Investor Research Analyst, LSN

This week, Life Science Nation (LSN) hosted our June Investor Fireside Chat which brought together four investors from different parts of the world discussing how early-stage life science investments in the first half of 2024 have looked like so far. We were happy to welcome Farzad Abdi-Dezfuli, Partner from Sarsia, Jenna Aronson, Principal from Two Bear Capital, Tom Gibbs, Investment Director from Debiopharm Group, and Rick Jones, Partner from BioAdvance. The investors gave their thoughts on trends of 2024 and insight to startups looking to fundraise.

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Biocat Lunch Keynote at RESI Europe 2024 

13 Jun

By Greg Mannix, Vice President International Business Development, General Manager Europe, LSN

Biocat will host a lunch keynote session at RESI Europe 2024 on June 17 at the Hotel Hilton Diagonal Mar in Barcelona. The session, titled “Catalonia’s Advanced Therapies Ecosystem: Shaping the Future of ATMPs in Europe,” will take place in the Ballroom, starting at 12 PM. Leading experts will discuss the pivotal role of Catalonia’s advanced therapies ecosystem in driving innovation and clinical advancements in Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) across Europe. This session, organized by Biocat, will delve into the region’s innovative landscape, highlighting groundbreaking research, investment opportunities, and cutting-edge developments.

The esteemed panel will be moderated by Robert Fabregat, CEO of BIOCAT, and features prominent figures in the field:

  • Fina Lladós, Vice President General Manager Iberia at Amgen
  • Silvia Martín-Lluesma, Clinical Senior Manager of Advanced Therapies at Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO)
  • Antoni Matilla, Cofounder and Director of Biointaxis
  • Lluís Pareras, Founder and Managing Partner at Invivo Ventures
  • Esteve Trias, Executive Medical Director at Leitat Technological Center

Attendees will gain invaluable insights into how Catalonia’s collaborative efforts and strategic initiatives propel Europe to the forefront of advanced therapies. This session is a must-attend for investors, researchers, and industry professionals committed to advancing the field of ATMPs and shaping the future of healthcare. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with key players and learn about the future of advanced therapies in Europe! If you haven’t registered for RESI Europe yet, you can register now to secure your spot.

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Hot Investor Profile: Corporate Venture Arm of Global Japan Corporation Seeking Early-Stage Therapeutic Technologies, Especially Platform Technologies

6 Jun

The corporate venture arm of a leading global company well known for its food products and amino science businesses with over $10B revenue seeks to create social and economic value for the global community. The group is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with over 34,000 employees throughout the globe. The group is currently focused on 4 growth areas, which are healthcare, food & wellness, ICT, and green.

The CVC was launched in 2020 with the goal of furthering the development in the 4 aforementioned growth areas, and has a US office based in Palo Alto, CA. The firm seeks to make equity investments up to $4M in promising early-stage companies, in mostly Seed and Series A rounds, and will reserve funds for follow-on investments as well. The firm invests globally, with the CVC’s US operations seeking opportunities based in North America and Europe.

The firm is most interested in early-stage biotech companies developing therapeutics of novel modalities. In particular, the firm likes to see platform technologies. The firm is open to a wide range of modalities including small molecules, biologics (i.e. ADCs), oligonucleotides, cell and gene therapy. The firm is open to pre-clinical and early clinical stage companies.The firm is indication agnostic.

The firm is currently not seeking conventional medical device and diagnostics companies, but is open to exploring digital health technologies with a very opportunistic mandate.

The firm has no specific company or management team requirements. The firm is most interested in seeing novel science. The firm prefers to act as a co-investor and does not actively seek board representation.

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

Hot Investor Profile: Spanish Pharmaceutical Company Opens to Different Partnership Structures Seeking Preclinical to Phase I Drug Discovery Innovations Globally

6 Jun

A leading Spanish pharmaceutical company with a global presence is focused on the research, development, and manufacturing of prescription drugs, healthcare products, and animal nutrition. The company seeks to partner with early-stage companies to enrich its current internal drug discovery pipeline and is open to various partnership structures, including co-development, in-licensing, and acquisition. The firm also makes equity investments, and is open to both leading and co-investing. A board or observer seat may be considered on a case-by-case basis. The company is geographically agnostic and open to considering opportunities globally.

The company seeks early-stage assets for its drug discovery pipeline. While small molecules are a primary area of focus, the firm is open to different types of assets, including peptides, antibodies, and platform technologies. However, software and materials are out of scope. The firm is open to all indications and modalities. In terms of development phases, the company is interested in assets ranging from pre-clinical to Phase I.

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

Hot Investor Profile: Norway-Based VC Launching Life Science and Medicine Dedicated Fund, Interested in Seed to Series A Therapeutics Opportunities

6 Jun

A Norway based venture capital firm that focuses on green technology and life sciences is launching their fourth fund, which will be dedicated to life science and human medicine, the firm is actively seeking opportunities in the early-stage therapeutics space. The firm’s primary investment focus spans from seed to series A. While the firm prefers co-investment, it remains open to leading rounds and can facilitate their formation. The firm is an active investor and a board seat is typically required. Geographically, the firm is agnostic but maintains a focus on the Nordic region.

With life science and healthcare, the firm is focused on therapeutics, including traditional drugs and therapies as well as technologies that improves healthcare outcomes, such as therapy enabling technologies, health-economics related technologies, and relevant diagnostics and monitoring tech/devices. The firm is not interested in traditional medtech.

Within the therapeutics realm, the firm is interested in degenerative and regenerative medicines, immunology, autoimmune diseases, and therapies targeting neurodegenerative diseases like dementia and Parkinson’s. The firm is also interested in orphan drugs. The firm seeks first-in-class assets that are genuinely innovative and cater to a unique niche or less crowded space, and prefer this over best-in-class assets that operates in a space with fierce competition and has been well-established by large pharma players. The firm considers companies from preclinical to early clinical phases. The firm is open to engaging with entrepreneurs during the research or conceptual phases before firm incorporation, but investments are typically made post-incorporation.

The firm is an active investor that closely collaborates with its portfolio companies on both scientific and business/commercialization fronts. The firm is open to working with scientists or technical founders who may lack extensive experience in business and commercialization, especially in earlier phases such as research or pre-clinical stages. However, they does seek founders who envision the target product profile from the company’s inception and acknowledge the risks and challenges involved in reaching commercialization. Therefore, the firm seeks founders who are receptive to communication and open to considering advice and guidance from investors.

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

Hot Investor Profile: US-based VC Focused on Neuroscience-related Technologies Seeking Seed to Series B Opportunities Globally

6 Jun

Established in 2023 and headquartered in California, A venture capital firm invests in Seed-Series B companies in pre-clinical and clinical stages. The firm’s current portfolio contains USA based companies, and they are looking to expand their investments into European companies. The firm is investing from its first fund valued at $100M. Depending on investment stage, the firm will invest between $1M-$10M. The firm is open to global investments.

The firm is focused on investing in neuroscience-based technology companies and will invest in medical devices and diagnostics. The firm does not invest in therapeutic (drug) companies. Indications of interest are focused on brain disorders, with a particular interest in neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental, and neuropsychiatric conditions including Parkinson’s disease, autism spectrum disorder, and bipolar disorder. The firm applies a broad definition to the technology solution space for these clinical conditions to include therapeutic medical devices (non-invasive and invasive), data platforms, imaging platforms, drug-device combinations, therapy enabling tools, and research tools.

The firm is open to leading or co-investing. The firm prefers, however, to lead and will generally prefer a board seat.

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

RESI Europe Program Guide Released  

6 Jun

By Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation, Creator of the RESI Conference Series

Life Science Nation (LSN) presents the Program Guide for the inaugural RESI Europe conference in Barcelona, taking place in person on June 17 at the Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona, followed by two virtual partnering days on June 18-19. This hybrid event connects early-stage life sciences innovators with global investors.

Highlights include the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge showcasing over 40 cutting-edge companies, expert panel discussions on industry trends, interactive workshops, and an exhibitor showcase.

Check out the guide below and join the forefront of European life sciences investment and partnership. Don’t miss this game-changing opportunity – there is still time to register.