Aglaia Biomedical Ventures

Aglaia Biomedical Ventures B.V. is a private equity and venture capital firm specializing in investments in incubation, startup, early stage, private investment in public equity (PIPEs), bridge financing, companies.

History

Aglaia Biomedical Ventures B.V. was founded in 2003 by Mark Krul and Karl Rothweiler and is based in Bilthoven, the Netherlands. The firm invests in life science companies.

The company, which currently has three funds under management, differs from other funds in that it focuses exclusively on oncology, as well as by getting involved at an early stage of technological development and through its hands-on management and allocation of capital.

Aglaia has a revenue of $1.4Million , focuses on oncology and invests in novel tools and technologies as well as components of contemporary drug development.

Investments

Aglaia BioMedical Ventures has made 8 investments, has had 1 exit, which was Merus.

Aglaia has raised a total of $65M in a single venture fund, Aglaia Oncology Fund II. This fund was announced on Sep 18, 2014, and raised a total of $65M.

Aglaia Oncology Funds

• Aglaia Oncology Fund B.V.

• Aglaia Oncology Seed Fund B.V.

• Aglaia Oncology Fund II B.V.

Through its Oncology Funds I and II, Aglaia has invested in 12 early stage companies, 6 of which were founded by Aglaia. The Aglaia team has been involved in the development of more than 100 oncology products.

Aglaia's goal is to have continuous strategic and operational involvement with portfolio companies in order to de-risk and mature them up to the level at which they become attractive candidates for licensing, acquisition or IPO.

Investment Criteria

• Early-stage oncology drug development

• Disruptive science with the potential to transform cancer diagnosis and therapy

• Spread across different drug modalities (small molecules, biologicals, etc.) and drug development phases (from target discovery up to clinical development)
• It focuses on investments in tools and technologies as well as components of contemporary drug development in biomedical companies in the field of oncology and in biotechnology companies.
• It invests in companies offering therapies for the prevention and cure of cancer. It usually invests in companies based in Europe.

• The firm typically invests up to EUR8 million (USD10.28 million) in the companies. It prefers to take an active role in the strategic and operational processes of its portfolio companies.
• They derive their opportunities from research centers as well as from corporate spinouts then select, develop and commercialize promising technologies up to a level where the technology becomes attractive to larger investors or pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

Strategy

Aglaia identifies opportunities in cancer research and, in partnerships with inventors and entrepreneurs, takes these opportunities to the next phase of technical and commercial development.

Aglaia offers portfolio companies support in designing research and development plans, ranging from early screening and animal feasibility studies through clinical studies.

Technologies meeting the following criteria are eligible for further evaluation:

• Fit within the focus area of oncology
• Sustainable technological advantage
• Above average business potential
• Sound intellectual property protection or potential for patenting
• Clearly definable milestones for development
• Scientist's commitment and dedication
• Foreseeable exit potential.