Funding opportunity
European biotech Merck Serono has launched a venture capital fund to invest in biotech start-ups that are active in the company’s core therapeutic areas.
Merck Serono Ventures will support biotechs with the potential to feed its pipeline in neurodegenerative diseases, oncology and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. It is also interested in investing in companies with platform technologies that could boost the productivity of their internal discovery and development activities.
“Biotech start-up companies are an important element in scientific innovation,” said Bernhard Kirschbaum, Executive Vice President of R&D at Merck Serono. “Merck Serono’s venture capital fund will provide the opportunity to support scientific excellence in our core fields of interest and provide start-up companies with the opportunity to interact early on with our organisation.”
Vincent Aurentz, Executive Vice President of Portfolio Development at Merck Serono, said the creation of the fund underlined the company’s commitment to be the partner of choice for biotech entrepreneurs and their investors. “This activity complements our toolkit of collaborative approaches to build a high-quality portfolio with our partners.”
Merck Serono Ventures has an initial commitment to invest up to €40 million during the next five years. The fund will operate as an arm of the company’s Portfolio Development function and will be closely linked to the Research & Development organisation.
Companies wishing to submit proposals or receive additional information can contact Merck Serono Ventures online.
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