The new Helsinn Investment Fund S.A. is an initiative of Swiss-bases pharmaceutical company Helsinn Group which aims to fund early-stage investment opportunities in areas of high unmet patient need. The initial investment commitment of the fund is of three years, followed by up to five years via follow-on rounds, for a total commitment of $ 50 million. 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. Through the Fund, Helsinn will invest directly in 10 to 15 companies, providing scientific and clinical strategy guidance, operational and board support alongside on going investment. The initiative comes in the Helsinn Group’s 40th year of operations, and applies its fundamental core values of quality, integrity and respect.
The target companies wishing to attract investments from the Fund should have achieved at least preclinical proof of concept, ideally with clinical data.
The Board of Directors of the Helsinn Investment Fund includes Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group vice chairman and chief executive officer, Luigi Caletti, financial advisor at Helsinn, 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.