Vivendy Therapeutics Ltd (Switzerland) - Jan 2008

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01 January 2008

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A consortium comprising BioMedInvest AG I, LSP Life Sciences Partners and TVM Capital closed a CHF 17m Series A round of funding for Vivendy Therapeutics Ltd., a bio-pharmaceutical company located in Basle, Switzerland.

In June 2008, Aescap Venture joined the existing investors in the second closing of a series A round, adding a further CHF 15m to the CHF 17m raised in January 2008, and bringing the total series A to CHF 32m.

The funding will enable to company to build on preclinical results to advance the clinical development programme of an enzyme replacement therapy for Morbus Morquio, a rare disease. There is no therapy for the disease in place, therefore the development of the company’s product addresses unmet medical needs with a high chance of success due to the fact that Vivendy Therapeutics is applying the established strategy of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with the Morquio specific enzyme. The company developed a specific recombinant human enzyme tailored to meet the particular requirements of the disease and thus enhanced the efficacy of the therapy significantly.

Company

Vivendy Therapeutics was founded in March 2006 as a spin-off of Inotech Biotechnologies AG. The company develops an ERT for Morbus Morquio (Mucopolysaccharidosis – MPS IVA), a rare lysosomal storage disease, based on a gene deficiency with an incidence of one to 200,000 live births. MPS IVA represents 5% of the lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs). Since it is a rare disease, it applies to orphandrug-status criteria in the US, Europe and Japan. The company’s product will provide patients with the enzyme they are naturally lacking and will represent the first true therapy for this condition.

People

Dr Roland Toder is the new CEO of Vivendy. Dr Domenico Valerio handled the investment for Aescap Venture and joins the company’s board of directors. Chairman of the board of directors is Dr Gerhard Ries, Partner of BioMedInvest. Dr Annegret de Baey (TVM Capital) and Dr Jörg Neermann (LSP Life Science Partners) are also members of the board of directors.

Advisers

Company - Vischer, (Legal)

Sourced from: Deutsche unquote" 95 (Feb 2008)