Versant Ventures related stories
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VC-backed Aprea Therapeutics sets IPO pricing termsBoston and Stockholm-based Aprea Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel anticancer therapies targeting the p53 tumor suppressor protein, has priced its IPO of 5 million shares between $14 and $16 per share. Aprea is backed by Redmile Group, Rock Springs Capital, 5AM Ventures, Versant Ventures, HealthCap, Sectoral Asset Management and Karolinska Development AB.
- Swiss biotech firm Anokion grabs $40 mln
Anokion SA, a Swiss biotechnology company, has secured $40 million in funding. The investors included Versant Ventures, Novartis Venture Fund, Novo Ventures and Celgene. Also, Anokon has acquired Kanyos Bio Inc. No financial terms were disclosed.
- Repare Therapeutics picks up Series B funding
Montreal and Boston-based Repare Therapeutics, a precision oncology company, has closed US$82.5 million in Series B financing. Cowen Healthcare Investments led the round. Other participants in the financing included OrbiMed, Redmile, BVF Partners LP, Logos Capital, Versant Ventures, MPM Capital, Fonds de solidarité FTQ and BDC Capital. In addition to the funding, Kevin Raidy, managing partner at Cowen Healthcare Investments and Dr. David Bonita, a partner at OrbiMed, will join Repare’s board of directors.
- Vensana wraps up inaugural medtech fund
Vensana Capital, which was launched by healthcare-focused venture firm Versant Ventures, has closed its debut fund at US$225 million. Vensana Capital I's limited partners include public pensions, university endowments, foundations, academic health systems, family offices and fund-of-funds. The fund will invest in the medical tech sector. Versant's offices include San Diego, San Francisco, Minneapolis, New York City and Vancouver, British Columbia.
- VC-backed medical tech startup Ebb Therapeutics appoints president/CEO
Pittsburgh-based Ebb Therapeutics, a medical tech startup, has named Eduard Röösli as president and CEO. His appointment is effective immediately. Previously, he was managing director for Image Skincare. Ebb Therapeutics is backed by KKR, Arboretum Ventures, Versant Ventures and Partner Ventures.
- Chinook Therapeutics snags Series A
Chinook Therapeutics has raised US$65 million in Series A financing. Versant Ventures led the round with participation from Apple Tree Partners and Samsara BioCapital. Based in Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, Chinook is a developer of precision medicines for kidney diseases.
- Chinook Therapeutics secures $86 mln in Series A financing
Chinook Therapeutics, a Vancouver-based developer of precision medicines for kidney disease, has raised about $86 million (US$65 million) in a Series A financing. U.S. life sciences venture capital firm Versant Ventures led the round, with participation from Apple Tree Partners and Samsara BioCapital. Chinook was incubated through Versant's Inception Sciences and seeded by Versant and Apple Tree. Chinook's technology leverages single-cell RNA sequencing, human-derived organoids and new translational models to develop therapeutics with novel mechanisms of action against kidney disease pathways. Led by President and CEO Eric Dobmeier, the company will use the funds raised to advance several programs into clinical trials by 2021.
- PE HUB Wire Highlights, 8.8.19
Centerbridge walks away from $1.5B GoHealth deal; Ardian eyes North America-based companies with next buyout fund; Francisco sells ClickSoftware to Salesforce for $1.4B
- Bayer to acquire VC-backed BlueRock Therapeutics in $1.3 bln deal
Bayer AG has agreed to acquire BlueRock Therapeutics, a Toronto- and Cambridge, Massachusetts-based developer of engineered cell therapies. The deal values BlueRock at about $1.3 billion (US$1 billion), including the 40.8 percent stake currently held by Bayer. In 2016, Bayer partnered with U.S. life sciences venture capital firm Versant Ventures in founding BlueRock with a US$225 million financing https://pehub.lndo.site/canada/2016/12/bayer-versant-invest-225-mln-in-biotech-venture-reuters/ Bayer said it will pay US$240 million for the remaining stake at closing and US$360 million more when development milestones are met. BlueRock's portfolio is focused on neurology, cardiology and immunology, with a first clinical program in Parkinson's disease expected later this year.
- VC-backed Pandion Therapeutics appoints CEO
Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Pandion Therapeutics, a biotech company focused on treating autoimmune and inflammatory disease, has named Dr. Rahul Kakkar as CEO and a member of its board of directors. Also, Pandion has promoted Dr. Jo Viney, a founder of the company, to president and chief scientific officer. And, Vikas Goyal joins Pandion as senior vice president of business development. Pandion's investors include Polaris Partners, Versant Ventures, Roche Venture Fund, SR One and BioInnovation Capital.