Helsinn Group Creates $50 Million Investment Fund

Helsinn, a Swiss pharmaceutical group focused on building quality cancer care, has created Helsinn Investment Fund S.A., a $50 million fund focused on early-stage investment opportunities in areas of high unmet patient need. The venture fund is slated to have an initial investment commitment of three years, followed by up to five years through follow-on rounds. The Helsinn Investment Fund is incorporated in Luxembourg and fully owned by the Helsinn Group.
 
The Fund aims to help companies working across a range of areas in healthcare to develop early-stage technologies into commercial solutions that will impact health-related quality of life of patients.
 
The Fund plans to make select investments in companies with early stage technologies and assets in a range of areas including cancer therapeutics and diagnostics, cancer supportive care, metabolic and gastrointestinal disorders, and dermatology conditions, across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and food supplements.
 
Through the Fund, Helsinn will invest directly in 10 to 15 companies, providing scientific and clinical strategy guidance, operational and board support alongside ongoing investment.
 
The Fund will focus on companies with strong science and technology which have achieved at least preclinical proof of concept, and ideally with clinical data. Before committing to an investment, the Fund performs stringent due diligence and expects the highest standards from experienced management teams, realistic development plans and a clear go-to-market strategy. Underpinned by clear value propositions, the Fund is confident of achieving positive financial returns. To date, the Fund has made investments in companies including Mei Pharma Inc., OncoResponse Inc., and QuantuMDx.
 
The Fund will be steered by an experienced Board of Directors including Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group vice chairman and CEO; Luigi Caletti, financial advisor of Helsinn Group; Dr. Francesco Granata, consultant and senior advisor at Warburg Pincus International LLC and chairman of Circassia Plc; and Betty Prudhomme, senior vice president of the tax department at SGG Luxembourg.
 
“Early stage medical innovation is the lifeblood of our industry and the future for patient care. Without critical early financial support, promising businesses cannot advance this innovation towards commercialisation,” said Braglia. “We’ve created Helsinn Investment Fund to help support these companies. Helsinn’s 40 years’ experience working to improve the daily lives of people affected by a range of chronic diseases has shown us how much we depend on innovation. We look forward to announcing future investments as we build the portfolio.”
 
The Investment Advisory team will be led by Braglia and Caletti, and managed by Roberto De Ponti, Pharm. D.; Dr. Francesco Granata M.D.; Hanna E. Kleczkowska, Ph.D.; Sandra van Essche, J.D.; and Karin Hehenberger, M.D., Ph.D.
 
The company has applied to register as SICAR in Luxembourg under the supervision of the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).
 
Helsinn is a privately owned cancer supportive care pharmaceutical group with a portfolio of marketed products and development pipeline. Helsinn is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, with operating subsidiaries in Ireland and the United States (Helsinn Therapeutics), a representative office in China, as well as a product presence in about 90 countries globally.