Helsinn Group Introduces Helsinn Investment Fund

PR66072

LUGANO, Switzerland, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

~ Helsinn Group creates new investment fund in 40th anniversary year ~

~ The new fund will focus on supporting early-stage investment opportunities in

areas of high unmet patient need ~

Helsinn, the Swiss Pharmaceutical Group focused on building quality cancer

care, today introduces Helsinn Investment Fund S.A. ("the Fund"), a fund

focused on early-stage investment opportunities in areas of high unmet patient

need.  With an initial investment commitment of three years, followed by up to

five years via follow-on rounds, the fund will have a total commitment of $50

million. The Helsinn Investment Fund is incorporated in Luxembourg and fully

owned by the Helsinn Group.

In the Group's 40th year of operations, Helsinn has launched this fund applying

its fundamental core values of quality, integrity and respect, and drawing on

40 years' expertise in research and development and commercialization of

therapeutic candidates in cancer care, pain and inflammation and

gastroenterology. 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., US,

OncoResponse Inc, US, QuantuMDx UK.

The Fund will be steered by a highly experienced Board of Directors including

Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,

Luigi Caletti, Financial Advisor of Helsinn Group, Dr Francesco Granata,

Consultant, Senior Advisor at Warburg Pincus International LLC and Chairman of

Circassia Plc and Betty Prudhomme, Senior Vice President, Tax Department, SGG

Luxembourg.

Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group Vice Chairman and CEO, commented: "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.

"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 Riccardo Braglia MBA and Luigi

Caletti MAA, and managed by Roberto De Ponti Pharm. D., Dr. Francesco Granata

M.D., Hanna E. Kleczkowska, Ph.D., and Sandra van Essche, J.D., as well as

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).

About Helsinn Investment Fund

The Helsinn Investment Fund is focused on early-stage investment opportunities

in areas of high unmet patient need. Backed by the Helsinn Group, and guided by

Helsinn's core values of quality, integrity and respect, Helsinn Investment

Fund aims to help companies with innovative technologies to transform new ideas

into commercial solutions with the potential to impact health-related quality

of life of patients.

The investment fund selects companies with technologies in a range of areas

including cancer therapeutics and diagnostics, cancer supportive care,

metabolic and gastrointestinal disorders, and dermatology conditions.

For more information, visit (http://www.helsinninvestmentfund.com)

About Helsinn Group

Helsinn is a privately owned cancer supportive care pharmaceutical group with

an extensive portfolio of marketed products and a broad development pipeline.  

Since 1976, Helsinn has been improving the everyday lives of patients, guided

by core family values of respect, integrity and quality, through a unique

integrated licensing business model working with long standing partners in

pharmaceutical, medical device and dietary supplement. Helsinn is headquartered

in Lugano, Switzerland, with operating subsidiaries in Ireland and the US

(Helsinn Therapeutics), a representative office in China, as well as a product

presence in about 90 countries globally.

For more information, please visit (http://www.helsinn.com).

For more information, please contact:

Helsinn Group

Paola Bonvicini

Head of Communication & Press Office

PH +41 91-985-21-21

info-hhc@helsinn.com

Consilium Strategic Communications Mary-Jane Elliott, Matthew Neal, Jessica

Hodgson, Laura Thornton, Cameron Standage +44 203 709 5700

helsinn@consilium-comms.com

SOURCE: Helsinn Group