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Biotechnology / BiopharmaceuticalsPlease see below a list of all our SVLSF investments by sector. To go to individual portfolio companies websites please click on company logo. Biotechnology / Biopharmaceuticals
Achillion: US
First investment: 2000 - Start Up Achillion is based in New Haven, CT, Achillion is focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative small molecule therapeutics for the treatment and/or prevention of serious infections associated with drug resistant viruses or bacteria. 
Aderis Pharmaceuticals: US - Exited
First investment: 2001 - Expansion Aderis Pharmaceuticals was a Cardiovascular, renal and neurological disease focused therapeutics focused upon making a significant difference to people living with cardiovascular, renal and neurological diseases. 
Adimab: US
First investment: 2007 - Start Up Adimab, Inc. is developing a fully integrated platform for antibody discovery and manufacturing which will offer customers/ acquirers a 3rd party royalty free and very rapid, 2-3 month path from target to optimized antibody. 
Affibody: Sweden - Exited
First investment: 2001 - Early Stage Affibody is a biotech company that uses unique affinity ligands to develop products for molecular imaging, targeted therapy and biotechnology applications. The lead product is a Her2 affibody for clinical imaging in breast cancer, and its pipeline includes other oncology imaging affibodies. In addition, affibodies are sold as research reagents and for use in protein separations. 
Affinium Pharmaceuticals : US
First investment: 2007 - Early Stage Affinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel anti-infective medicines stemming from the bacterial fatty acid synthesis pathway. 
Alantos Pharmaceuticals: US - Exited
First investment: 2003 - Early Stage Alantos was a chemistry-driven company seeking to discover and develop drugs targeted at osteoarthritis and inflammatory processes. The company attempts to fast follow others to reduce risk. 
Alba Therapeutics: US
First investment: 2005 - Early Stage Alba is based in Baltimore, MD, is focused on the development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of inflammatory and immune mediated diseases. Alba’s technology provides the ability to transiently open or close internal barriers such as the intestinal mucosa. Alba is applying its technology to develop treatments for celiac disease and other autoimmune conditions. 
Alinea: US
First investment: 2005 - Expansion 
Allocure: US
First investment: 2008 - Early Stage Allocure is a biotechnology company at the forefront of innovative cell therapies for the treatment of acute kidney injury. 
Allos Therapeutics: US - Exited
First investment: 1998 - Early Stage Allos Therapeutics was developing and commercializing innovative small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Antiva: UK First investment: 2008 - Start Up Antiva, is a spin out business from Vantia www.vantiatherapeutics.com and alongside that business focuses on leading research based healthcare into improving clinical treatments through development & commercialisation of innovative medicines. 
Archemix: US
First investment: 2002 - Early Stage Archemix is based in Cambridge, MA, developing nucleic acid aptamers for therapeutic indications, building on a broad IP portfolio acquired from Gilead/Nexstar. 
Auxilium Pharmaceuticals: US - Exited
First investment: 2001 - Early Stage Auxilium developed a male hormone replacement therapy. 
Avera Pharmaceuticals: US - Exited
First investment: 2004 - Early Stage Avera is based in San Diego, CA and focused on the development of small molecule drugs for the treatment of diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS). Key programs are Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia associated cognition deficits, IBS, and OAB, and developing an ultra-short acting anaesthesia compound. 
Axys Pharmaceuticals: US - Exited
First investment: 1994 - Early Stage Axys developed a protease-inhibitor based products for cancer & inflammatory diseases. Bicycle Therapeutics: UK First investment 2009 – Seed Developing a platform technology that may enable the creation of a new generation of biotherapeutics. 
Catabasis Pharmaceuticals: US
First Investment 2010 – Start up Developing therapeutics of the treatment of inflammatory and metabolic diseases. 
Celldex/Lorantis: UK - Exited
First investment SVLSF II: 2000 - Start Up First investment SVLSF III: 2003 - Early Stage Celldex merged with the quoted company Avant Immunotherapeutics (ticker:'AVAN') in March 2008. Celldex, formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of Medarex Inc., merged with Lorantis Ltd in 2005. Celldex pursues immunological approaches to the treatment of cancers, infectious disease and immunological disorders. 
Celldex/Lorantis: UK - Exited
First investment SVLSF II: 2001 - Seed First investment SVLSF III: 2003 - Seed Celldex merged with the quoted company Avant Immunotherapeutics (ticker:'AVAN') in March 2008. Celldex, formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of Medarex Inc., merged with Lorantis Ltd in 2005. Celldex pursues immunological approaches to the treatment of cancers, infectious disease and immunological disorders. 
Cellzome: Germany
First investment: 2001 - Start Up Cellzome is a drug discovery company building a R&D pipeline in chronic diseases by leveraging its unique drug proteomics engine. The business is based in Heidelberg, Germany and Cambridge, UK. 
Cerebrus: UK - Exited
First investment: 1995 - Start Up Cerebrus CNS drug discovery (Acquired by Nigra, which was then bought by Vernalis) 
Cognis: Luxembourg
First investment: 2001 - Buyout Cognis is a global supplier of specialty chemicals using renewable, bio-degradable,natural oils as the key raw material base. Customers include international manufacturers of cosmetics, vitamins and nutritional supplements and homecare products as well as a broad range of industrial customers. 
Cytomed: US - Exited
First investment: 1997 - Early Stage Cytomed was a leukotriene inhibitors for asthma (Acquired by LeukoSite Inc and then by Millenium). 
Delenex Therapeutics: Switzerland
First investment SVLSF III: 2009 - Early Stage Delenex is a spin out from ESBATech, an investment that was divested in 2009. The business focuses on research and development in to its antibody fragments for delivering next generation Therapeutics application. 
Delenex Therapeutics: Switzerland
First investment SVLSF IV: 2009 - Early Stage Delenex is a spin out from ESBATech, an investment that was divested in 2009. The business focuses on research and development in to its antibody fragments for delivering next generation Therapeutics application. 
Dynogen Pharmaceuticals: US - Exited
First investment: 2004 - Early Stage Dynogen is a neuroscience-based company focused on genito-urinary (GU) and gastro-intestinal (GI) disorders. The company is using its knowledge of neurology and GU/GI disorders to build a pipeline of clinical candidates. 
ESBATech: Switzerland
First investment: 2006 - Early Stage ESBATech is a preclinical stage drug discovery company that intends to refocus the business to build a world class Ophthalmology company on the back of an attractive, proprietary antibody fragment platform which can deliver uniquely stable, soluble and monomeric fragments and compelling data on penetration of these fragments into the eye following topical treatment. 
EUSA Pharma : UK
First investment: 2007 - Expansion EUSA Pharma (EUSA) is a fast growing, transatlantic specialty pharma company developing and commercialising for healthcare professionals and patients a range of prescription products in pain, oncology and critical care. 
Eyetech Pharmaceuticals: US - Exited
First investment: 2000 - Early Stage Eyetech was bought by OSI Pharmaceuticals after our exit. Opthalmolological drug development. 
Geltex Pharmaceuticals: US - Exited
First investment: 1995 - Early Stage Further investment: 1998 - Expansion Geltex developed novel non-absorbed pharmaceuticals. Geltex was acquired by Genzyme Corporation after our exit. 
GlycoFi: US - Exited
First investment: 2002 - Start Up GlycoFi was a production and engineering of therapeutics proteins. 
Ikano: US
First investment: 2006 - Early Stage Intranasal Therapeutics, Inc. (“ITI”) based in Montvale, NJ, is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative, nasally delivered pharmaceutical products with a particular focus on drugs treating pain and CNS-related disorders for which there is proven, unsatisfied consumer demand. The company will be developing new formulations of already marketed drugs and will pursue U.S. regulatory approval using the FDA 505(b)2* regulations. Formerly known as Intranasal Therapeutics. 
Incyte Pharmaceuticals: UK - Exited
First investment: 1996 - Start Up Functional genomics (Acquired by Incyte). 
Ingenium: Germany - Exited
First investment: 2000 - Early Stage Ingenium was a functional genomics and drug development company. 
Itero Biopharmaceuticals: US
First investment: 2007 - Early Stage Itero is an early stage biosimilars company focused on the large number of product opportunities with product patents. 
Juvaris BioTherapeutics: US
First Investment: 2009 - Early Stage Developing novel, adjuvanted vaccines and immunotherapeutics to treat infectious disease and cancer. 
Kinetix Pharmaceuticals: US - Exited
First investment: 1999 - Start Up Kinase targeted drug discovery (Acquired by Amgen). 
KuDOS Pharmaceuticals: UK - Exited
First investment: 1999 - Start Up KuDOS was an oncology drug development company. 
LeukoSite: US - Exited
First investment: 1994 - Start Up LeukoSite was a treatment of Inflammatory diseases and cancer (Acquired by Millenium). 
Link Medicine: US
First Investment: 2008 - Early Stage Link Medicine is a clinical stage company spun out of Harvard University working on disease-modifying therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. 
Logical Therapeutics: US
First investment: 2007 - Start Up Logical Therapeutics is a clinical stage drug development company with a focus on inflammation. The lead product, LT-NS001, is a prodrug of naproxen designed to minimize GI toxicity. The company is also working on a prodrug of aspirin, also designed to minimize GI toxicity. 
Lux Biosciences: US
First investment: 2006 - Seed Lux is developing drugs for ophthalmic diseases. Their lead products are a Cyclosporin implant for corneal transplant,and ISA247 for uveitis. Both programs are in Phase III development. Additional programs are an ISA247 implant for dry eye and Age-related Macular Degeneration. 
Metris Therapeutics: UK - Exited
First investment SVLSF I: 1998 - Start Up First investment SVLSF II: 2000 - Start Up Metris is a women’s healthcare company that is developing drugs for the treatment of chronic gynecological and menstrual conditions. 
Metris Therapeutics: UK - Exited
First investment SVLSF I: 1998 - Start Up First investment SVLSF II: 2000 - Start Up Metris is a women’s healthcare company that is developing drugs for the treatment of chronic gynecological and menstrual conditions. 
Micromet: Germany
First investment: 1998 - Start Up Micromet designs and develops novel antibody derived therapeutics for the treatment of cancer diseases. These drugs are unique in their ability to engage immune effector cells to selectively eliminate disease causing cells. 
Mpex Pharmaceuticals: US
First investment: 2005 - Early Stage Mpex based in San Diego, CA, is focused on the discovery and development of new-antibacterial drugs that meet the growing clinical need created by multi-drug resistant bacteria. Mpex has identified several approaches to increase the effectiveness of existing antibiotics and decrease the incidence of drug resistance to these antibiotics. Mpex’s first product will be an inhaled antibiotic for serious lung infections. 
Mpex Pharmaceuticals: US
First SVLSF IV Investment: 2009 - Early Stage Mpex based in San Diego, CA, is focused on the discovery and development of new-antibacterial drugs that meet the growing clinical need created by multi-drug resistant bacteria. Mpex has identified several approaches to increase the effectiveness of existing antibiotics and decrease the incidence of drug resistance to these antibiotics. Mpex’s first product will be an inhaled antibiotic for serious lung infections. 
NeurogesX (NGSX): US
First Investment: 2007 - PIPE NeurogesX is developing novel topical products to relieve chronic pain and improve quality of life. 
Neurotech: US
First investment: 2006 - Early Stage Neurotech based in Lincoln, RI, has developed an encapsulated cell therapy for the delivery of therapeutic proteins in retinal diseases. The first product is ciliary neurothrophic factor (CNTF) for retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration (geographic atrophy). 
NKT Therapeutics, Inc: US
First Investment: 2007 - Early Stage NKT Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics based on a unique subset of immune cells called natural killer T (”NKT”) cells. 
Ophthotech: US
First investment: 2007 - Seed Ophthotech is dedicated to developing drugs for ophthalmic diseases with high unmet medical needs. 
Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals: India - Exited
Private investment in Public Equity First investment: 1999 - Expansion Orchid manufactured bulk generic pharmaceuticals. 
Oxagen: UK
First investment: 2000 - Expansion Oxagen, based in Oxford, UK, is a biopharmaceutical company building a novel drug pipeline based on targets validated in man through its genetic platform. Oxagen’s work is focused in inflammatory and metabolic diseases. PanOptica First investment: 2009 - Seed PanOptica is a start-up company dedicated to developing drugs for ophthalmic diseases with high unmet medical needs. 
PowderMed: UK - Exited
First investment: 2004 - Early Stage PowderMed developed therapeutic DNA vaccines in the areas of chronic viral diseases and cancer. 
Quantum Dot: US - Exited
First investment: 2000 - Early Stage Quantum Dot developed nanocrystal biological reagents. 
RespiVert: UK - Exited
First Investment: 2007 - Start Up RespiVert is a discovery company focused on Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ('COPD') and severe asthma. The company’s goal is to develop novel inhaled and intranasal drugs for respiratory disorders with high unmet medical need and high commercial potential based on novel insights on biology and chemistry. 
Rinat Neuroscience: US - Exited
First investment: 2003 - Early Stage Rinat developed proteins for the treatment of diseases and disorders of the nervous system. 
Sapphire Pharmaceuticals: US - Exited
First investment: 2004 - Early Stage Helsinn is developing small molecule drugs based on the biology of ghrelin,a gut peptide known to stimulate appetite. The lead compound is in Ph II for cancer cachexia; a second compound has completed an initial clinical study and is moving toward Ph II for post-operative ileus. Additional indications are being explored for follow-on compounds. Formerly known as Rejuvenon. 
Shire Pharmaceuticals: US - Exited
First investment: 1994 - Early Stage Shire Pharmaceuticals - osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease. 
Solexa: UK - Exited
First investment: 2001 - Start Up Solexa used ultra high throughput DNA sequencing. 
Strides Arcolab: India - Exited
First investment: 1997 - Expansion Strides Arcolab was a manufacturer of generic pharmaceuticals. 
Sutro Biopharma, Inc.: US
First investment: 2006 - Early Stage Sutro Biopharma's mission is to enable the production of low-cost, high quality rapidly developed protein pharmaceuticals and innovative vaccines that cannot be manufactured by existing technologies. Previously known as Fundamental Applied Biology’s (FAB). 
Third Wave Technologies: US - Exited
First investment: 1999 - Expansion Third Wave developed products for analysing genetic variations. 
Triangle Pharmaceuticals: US - Exited
First investment: 1995 - Start Up Triangle Pharmaceuticals was an antiviral and anticancer drug development company (Acquired by Gilead). 
Trine Pharmaceuticals: US - Exited
First investment: 2001 - Expansion Trine, formerly Essential Therapeutics Inc., in-licenses, develops and plans to commercialize new classes of pharmaceutical products focused on renal, metabolic and GI clinical areas. 
Vanguard Medica (Vernalis): UK - Exited
First investment: 1995 - Early Stage Vanguard Medica was an antiviral and anticancer drug development company. (Acquired by Vernalis) 
Vantia Pharmaceuticals: UK
First investment: 2008 - Start Up Vantia Therapeutics is a leading research based healthcare company dedicated to improving clinical treatments through development & commercialisation of innovative medicines. 
Versicor: US - Exited
First investment: 1999 - Expansion Versicor was a drug development company for infectious diseases (Changed name to Vicurion Pharmaceuticals in 2003) 
X2-Pharma: Germany - Exited
First investment: 2008 - Seed X2-Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of small molecule pharmaceuticals for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. 
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