The PMV life-sciences team (fltr: Bram Vanparys, Bart De Smet, Kenneth Wils)
Since 2006 PMV has already invested in the creation and growth of eleven companies active in life sciences. This was done through capital participations or via subordinated, convertible loans. PMV’s portfolio currently includes companies such as Amakem, Apitope, Arcarios, Biocartis, Cartagenia, Complix, Formac Pharma, Okapi Sciences, PharmaDiagnostics, Silicos and 3Win.
PMV always invests together with other risk capital providers. This is done according to the customary standards of the sector. The investment horizon is limited to a maximum of seven years. During this period, companies can use the capital provided to:
- further develop and where appropriate market their technology
- build up intellectual property
- create added value
- effect a withdrawal (e.g. via a sale (trade sale) to an industrial operator).
PMV is also a shareholder in the specialist risk capital providers Vesalius Biocapital en Aescap Venture.
In focus: Complix
““In its initial phase, an innovative biotech company such as Complix is heavily dependent on specialist investment funds that not only provide the necessary money but also have a clear vision and can think along with the management. PMV can play this role to perfection.”
Mark Vaeck, CEO Complix
Complix
PMV is therefore in at the start of the biopharmaceutical company Complix. The company focuses on developing new biotherapeutics.
Many medicines released onto the market today are no longer based on – simple – chemical molecules but on – complex – biological structures. These could be antibodies such as, for example, Humira, used to fight rheumatoid arthritis. But the development of drugs based on such antibodies also has its limitations. Various companies are therefore searching for second-generation biological structures.
Complix, for example, has developed a protein structure known as AlphabodyTM. This can serve as a basis for the development of the next batch of biopharmaceutical therapies.
Complix was established in 2008 with seed capital from PMV subsidiary Vinnof, the Gemma Frisius Fund (K.U. Leuven), the Baekeland Fund (University of Ghent) and trust capital. The seed financing allowed Complix to develop its technology further, perfect its business model, build up its intellectual property position and bring top biotech CEO Mark Vaeck (ex-CEO of Ablynx and Actogenix) on board.
In June 2010 that resulted in an initial major financing round of EUR 5 million with the existing shareholders - Vesalius Biocapital, LRM, CRP Santé – and the management of Complix as investors. This financing allowed the company to develop a portfolio of therapeutic products based on the AlphabodyTM platform. The initial focus is on developing new therapies for auto-immune disorders and infectious diseases.
More information?
PMV nv
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T 02 229 52 30
info@pmv.eu