LEIDEN, The Netherlands and SEATTLE, August 24 /PRNewswire/ -- ProFibrix B.V., a leader in the development of innovative products for hemostasis and regenerative medicine, today announced the successful closing of a US $11 million series B investment. The financing round was led by new investor Gilde Healthcare Partners, a leading European life sciences investor, who joins existing investor Index Ventures. Dirk Kersten from Gilde will join the company’s Supervisory Board.
Jaap Koopman, PhD, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Gilde Healthcare to our investor base and we appreciate the ongoing support and expertise that our investors can offer to our experienced team as we continue the development of ProFibrix. The proceeds of the financing will be applied to the ongoing clinical development of our lead product Fibrocaps(TM), and to the preclinical development of our pipeline products.”
Fibrocaps is based on a mixture of two essential blood clotting proteins, fibrinogen and thrombin, and is a unique dry powder topical tissue sealant that rapidly stops bleeding after or during surgery. Fibrocaps has major advantages over existing liquid tissue sealants: it is ready for immediate use, is stable at room temperature, highly effective and fast acting. Fibrocaps is currently in a Phase II clinical trial in the Netherlands with results expected end of 2009.
Dirk Kersten, investment manager at Gilde Healthcare Partners, commented: “Gilde Healthcare Partners invests in biopharmaceutical companies with strong technology platforms and experienced management. We believe ProFibrix’ breakthrough fibrinogen technology is well-positioned to play an important role in the highly attractive hemostasis and regenerative medicine markets.”
ProFibrix expects to submit an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for Fibrocaps to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the first half of 2010, and to conduct a combined phase II/III pivotal study in various surgical indications.
About ProFibrix
ProFibrix (http://www.ProFibrix.com) was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Leiden, The Netherlands, with a subsidiary in Seattle, WA, USA The company leverages its expertise in fibrinogen technology to develop and market innovative products for the hemostasis and regenerative medicine markets. Human fibrinogen plays a pivotal role in blood clotting and tissue healing. ProFibrix is led by a team with extensive commercial, clinical and scientific experience in the hemostasis field.
About Gilde Healthcare Partners
Gilde Healthcare Partners (http://www.gildehealthcare.nl) founded in 2000 is headquartered in Utrecht, the Netherlands with representatives in London and Madrid. Gilde Healthcare Partners has over EUR 275 million under management and is actively looking to lead new investments in therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices and enabling technologies. Gilde is a successful builder of healthcare businesses across Europe. By investing in companies with clear achievable business models, Gilde has used its financial resources and network to create significant value for both its investors and the entrepreneurs it backs. Companies that Gilde Healthcare Partners has proactively supported span all aspects of healthcare and include Ablynx (Belgium), Acacia Pharma (UK), Agendia (Netherlands), AMT (Netherlands), Ascendis Pharma (Denmark), Chroma Therapeutics (UK), Conatus (US), Flowcardia (US), Glycart (Switzerland), Santaris Pharma (Denmark) and Symphogen (Denmark). For a full list of Gilde’s portfolio companies please visit http://www.gildehealthcare.nl
About Index Ventures
Index Ventures is a leading pan-European venture capital firm dedicated to working with entrepreneurs who have the drive and ability to build world-class technology and life science companies. The Index Ventures team, which began investing in 1992, has a deep technology and scientific focus and the ability to leverage a network of cross-Atlantic strategic relationships. Index proactively seeks out the top entrepreneurial teams in each investment area and leverages its core assets in helping the entrepreneurs build their companies into global leaders. Index Ventures investors include leading technology firms and institutional investors. Previous investments include Addex Pharmaceuticals, Genmab, SGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ingenium, ParAllele Bioscience, Molecular Partners and PanGenetics. Further information on Index Ventures can be found at http://www.indexventures.com
