February 15, 2008
Auris Medical completes Series B financing round
Auris Medical AG, a Swiss-French biotechnology company developing novel therapies for ear disorders, raised CHF 11 million in its Series B financing round from institutional investors. The investment will fund the company’s further expansion and in particular the development of its lead products. The new shares were subscribed by a group of investors led by AGF Private Equity, Paris, and including the two life science investment funds ZKB Pharma Vision Fund, Zurich, and Lacuna Apo Biotech Fund, Luxembourg, as well as an undisclosed industrial company.
In connection with the fund raising, Dr. Alain Munoz and Prof. Wolfgang Arnold joined Auris Medical’s Board of Directors. Alain Munoz, MD, is an experienced entrepreneur and consultant in the healthcare industry and is representing AGF Private Equity. Prior to starting his own business in 2000, he was Senior Vice President at Groupe Fournier’s Pharmaceutical Division. Wolfgang Arnold is professor emeritus in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery, and an internationally renowned expert in the field of inner ear disorders. Up to last year, he was the head of the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery of the Technical University of Munich, Germany (“Klinikum rechts der Isar”). Thomas Meyer, the company’s founder, will continue to serve as Auris Medical’s Chairman of the Board and Managing Director.
About AGF Private Equity
With more than EUR 2 bn under management, AGF Private Equity, a member of the Allianz Group, is specialized in non-listed investments. Among the leading French funds, AGF Private Equity’s venture branch manages EUR 350 mn, and has invested in more than 60 high tech companies. As one of the most active venture firms in Europe, AGF Private Equity is a strong partner of growth companies. For more details, please visit www.agfpe.com.
About ZKB Pharma Vision Fund
The ZKB Pharma Vision Fund is a global healthcare fund with a size of CHF 260 mn focusing on all different subsectors in the healthcare space. Although the fund mostly invests in public equities it has the possibility to invest in private companies. The fund is advised by Adamant Biomedical Investments AG, a specialized healthcare investor with more than CHF 1 bn in assets under management and advisory. For more details, please visit www.adamantinvest.com.
About Lacuna SICAV – Lacuna Apo BioTech Subfund
The Lacuna Apo BioTech Fund focuses on small and mid cap healthcare companies. Although the majority of investments are in the public equity space, it has successfully invested in a number of private healthcare companies in the past years. The fund is advised by Adamant Biomedical Investments AG (see above).
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