New fund to impact tomorrow's healthcare: launch of Thuja Capital Healthcare Fund III

Utrecht, 11 November 2020. Thuja Capital Management (Thuja) today announces completion of a first closing of its third investment fund, Thuja Capital Healthcare Fund III (TCHF III). TCHF III will invest in early-stage innovative companies and daring entrepreneurs developing best-in-class products with clinically proven benefits for patients to impact the healthcare of tomorrow.

Intensive collaboration with universities and regional development agencies
The products of the companies Thuja invests in are deeply rooted in science and clinical practice. In close collaboration with universities and university medical centers (in particular those of Utrecht, Maastricht (Brightlands), Nijmegen and Leuven) Thuja will be scouting for projects to build new ventures focusing on novel therapeutics, medical devices, nutraceuticals or digital health solutions with high impact potential. In addition, Thuja is deeply involved with important innovation ecosystems through its relationship with a number of regional development agencies and investment funds (BOM, Oost NL, LIOF, NOSHAQ and Sambrinvest).

Oscar Schoots, Utrecht Holdings (representing both Utrecht University as well as Utrecht University Medical Center): "We are participating in a Thuja fund for the third time in a row now. Over the past decade we have found a valuable investor and partner in Thuja, committed to providing not only the financial resources but also broader strategic and practical support to get our spin-off companies going and facilitate their way to success."

Over the next years, Thuja will invest in 10 to 15 companies mainly in The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Thuja’s relationship with NOSHAQ, Sambrinvest and KU Leuven further cements Thuja’s engagement in the innovation-rich Belgian ecosystem.

European Investment Fund as Thuja’s cornerstone investor
Initial capital providers to TCHF III include the European Investment Fund (EIF), under the Innovfin mandate.

Alain Godard, Chief Executive of the EIF: "Thuja has been performing very well since we joined as a cornerstone investor in their second fund. We recognize their role in nurturing a vibrant innovation ecosystem and value their relationships with universities to create and nurture novel companies. Our decision to join Thuja’s third fund also shows the importance of the support from European institutions to boost innovation around Europe."

In addition to EIF, mentioned universities and regional development agencies also committed to TCHF III, supplemented with a number of family offices and private individuals. At this time, the fund has a starting capital of EUR 43M but expects to raise EUR 75M to EUR 100M once fully completed.

With the first closing of TCHF III completed, Thuja is expanding its team. Aartie Nanda has recently joined Thuja as an office and communications manager, and further hires to reinforce the investment team are in progress.

ESG and Impact investing in healthcare
As an investor in healthcare companies, Thuja aims to positively impact the lives of patients and promote health. In order to optimize the impact potential of portfolio investments, Thuja will implement ESG factors alongside financial risk management. Thuja has appointed an Impact and ESG officer to the team to support this ambition.

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­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­About Thuja

Thuja Capital Management BV (Thuja) manages several venture capital funds aimed at building and scaling companies in the fields of (bio)pharmaceuticals, medtech and digital health. In addition to generating a financial return for its investors, Thuja’s investments positively impact the health and well-being of patients. Thuja serves physicians and patients worldwide by providing capital to daring entrepreneurs with ground-breaking product concepts locally. For more information visit www.thujacapital.com.

About EIF

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its central mission is to support Europe's micro, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) by helping them to access finance. EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments which specifically target this market segment. In this role, EIF fosters EU objectives in support of innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth, and employment.

About Noshaq

Noshaq is a Belgian investment fund and project developer with a portfolio of 464 companies and 600 million euros of resources. Noshaq is the reference financial partner for the creation and development of SMEs in the Liege Region (Wallonia). Over the years, Noshaq has developed a range of financing vehicles in line with the needs and trends of the market and its strategy. Each service offered by Noshaq (capital - loan - leasing) is always determined according to the demand and needs of the owner-investor. The objective is always to have a leverage effect on the company's development. Further information is available at: www.noshaq.be.

About Sambrinvest

With 35 years of experience alongside entrepreneurs, more than 270 companies in portfolio and €160 M under management, Sambrinvest is a major player in venture capital in the region of Charleroi Métropole, Wallonia, Belgium. More than an investor, Sambrinvest is the catalyst for local ecosystems development, such as Biotech, Digital, Engineering. For more information, please visit: www.sambrinvest.be.

About BOM

BOM (the Brabant Development Agency) works together with businesses to create a robust, sustainable, and future-proof economy for the Dutch province of Brabant. We share knowledge, create networks and provide investment capital to innovative Brabant companies and sustainable energy projects. We also encourage innovative foreign companies to settle in Brabant and we assist Brabant companies to extend their reach abroad. We aim to enhance economic growth, increase employment, solve social issues, and create a leading role for Brabant on the world stage. www.bom.nl.

About Oost NL and Topfonds Gelderland

Oost NL (East Netherlands Development Agency) is an agency that focuses its activities and projects on strengthening and stimulating the economy of the provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel, the Netherlands. Oost NL plays an important role in executing the economic policies of the Dutch government and the Provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel and its various city governments. To achieve this it is necessary to encourage a close cooperation between businesses, regional institutes, knowledge institutes, and intermediaries. Oost NL acts as a bridge between government, companies and knowledge institutes. We do this partly with risk capital from various revolving innovation funds. In addition, Oost NL stimulates and supports public and private investors. The result: growth through financing.

Topfonds Gelderland is a revolving investment fund of the province of Gelderland, managed by fund manager Oost NL. Through Topfonds Gelderland Oost NL invests capital from the province in innovative enterprises and projects. This takes place, in cooperation with co-investors, in the form of direct investments in companies and through investments in market funds.

About LIOF

LIOF supports innovative entrepreneurs in Limburg with advice, network and financing. Together with the entrepreneur, a team of professionals determines the optimum mix of instruments for each individual entrepreneur based on his needs. LIOF helps small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) with innovative ideas, business plans and financing requests, and aids entrepreneurs who want to establish themselves in Limburg. We also help entrepreneurs with cross-border cooperation and international trade. Our goal is to make Limburg Ltd., and therefore Limburg as a whole, economically stronger. www.liof.nl/en

About Utrecht Holdings

Utrecht Holdings (UH) is the Knowledge Transfer Office of and is active as an investor for Utrecht University and University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht). UH is focused on the utilization and commercialization of academic research. UH supports scientists in creating, building and investing in innovations with a particular expertise in biotech, medtech, education and ICT. Since 1996, UH has assisted Utrecht University and the UMC Utrecht in attracting significant amounts of research money, filed over 175 patents, closed many license agreements, and established over 45 spin-off companies. www.utrechtholdings.nl.

Thuja announces changes to its Advisory Board

Thuja announces changes to its Advisory Board

Dr. Werner Cautreels joins and Prof. Dr. Jan van de Winkel steps down from Thuja's Advisory Board

Utrecht, 5 November 2020 – The team of Thuja is delighted and honored to announce that Dr. Werner Cautreels has agreed to join the Advisory Board of Thuja. The Advisory Board consists of seasoned individuals with a track record in academia, medicine and/or industry of high relevance to Thuja's investment focus. Given Dr. Cautreels impressive background and extensive network, we believe that he will be an excellent addition to the Advisory Board.

Background of Dr. Cautreels

After Dr. Cautreels obtained his PhD in chemistry from the University of Antwerp, Belgium and an Executive MBA from Harvard Business School, Massachusetts, USA, he worked at Sanofi, Sterling Winthrop and Nycomed-Amersham in a variety of R&D management positions in Europe and the United States. Dr Cautreels served as Global CEO of Solvay Pharmaceuticals until it was acquired by Abbott Laboratories in 2010. Subsequently he was President and CEO of Selecta Biosciences (Boston and Moscow) from July 2010 until his retirement in December 2018.

Dr. Cautreels is now pursuing a portfolio career. Dr Cautreels was a Director of Innogenetics NV (Gent, Belgium) and of Arqule Inc. (Woburn, MA, USA). Until April 2019, Dr Cautreels was Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Galapagos NV (Mechelen, Belgium), and the President of the Belgian Chamber of Commerce for Russia. He currently serves as Chairman of Cristal Therapeutics and MRM Health, and is a member of the Board of ATB Therapeutics, Accoy Pharmaceuticals and Thrombolytic Science. Dr. Cautreels lives alternatingly in Boston and Brussels.

Departure of Dr. van de Winkel

After serving for more than 12.5 years in the Advisory Board, Prof. Dr. Jan van de Winkel has decided to step down. Prof. Dr. Van de Winkel is CEO of Genmab and the enduring success of Genmab requires his full dedication and focus. We are very grateful to the great contribution that Jan has made. His critical yet supportive attitude has helped us in selecting and building our portfolio, to the benefit of our investors as well as the patients and doctors.

Cristal Therapeutics announces a publication in ‘Chemical Science’ on CliCr® technology platform

Cristal Therapeutics announces a publication in ‘Chemical Science’ on CliCr® technology platform, comprising a new class of superior copper free click reagents for conjugation of small molecules, biologics, nanoparticles and other moieties

Maastricht, The Netherlands, 29 September 2020 
Cristal Therapeutics, a Dutch phase 2 clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing targeted nanomedicines for the treatment of cancer and other diseases with high unmet patient need, announces publication in Chemical Science, the flagship journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry, of an article on the development of TMTHSI as part of the CliCr® platform providing fast and versatile conjugation tools.

For the optimal performance of CriPec® nanomedicines, it is essential to be able to attach a broad range of small molecule active agents and large molecular entities, biologics, to CriPec® nanoparticles.

CliCr® is also used to generate virus mimicking nanoparticles. CriVac® is a unique antigen carrier platform based on CriPec® nanoparticles that, in contrast to viral vectors, do not convey a bystander immune response. CriPec particles’ size resemble a virus and the desired numbers of antigen displayed on its surface are controlled via CliCr®. CriVac® mimics features of a live virus in a tailored manner to induce immunity safely, efficiently and solely to the displayed antigen, offering a prophylactic vaccination strategy which will be readily adaptable to different pathogenic treats.

The very attractive functionalisation possibilities, combined with its versatility, great reactivity and small size offer multiple opportunities for CliCr® reagents to become the new standard for non-copper catalyzed click reactions in a multitude of applications.

Dr Cristianne Rijcken, CSO of Cristal Therapeutics, stated:
“This new versatile click reagent originates from an intense collaboration between industry and academic partners. For our nanomedicine applications, a fast, cleanly reacting and small click reagent is absolutely indispensable. These demands required the development of a new reagent, which will be highly attractive both for our proprietary applications and for the wider world of the biological, medical and material science applications. This is ground-breaking technology!”

Please read the full press release.

Thuja portfolio company Salvia BioElectronics successfully closes Series A financing round

22 September 2020 - Utrecht

We are pleased to announce our participation in the EUR 26M Series A financing of Salvia BioElectronics, a promising medical device start-up developing a neuromodulation device for the treatment of chronic migraine. As Salvia’s first venture capital investor, Thuja has supported Salvia throughout its early development phase, creating the basis for the current Series A which includes Inkef, Panakes, SHS, Dolby Family Ventures and BOM. Please find the original press release below.

Chronic migraine, in particular treatment-resistant chronic migraine, continues to be a leading cause of disability. Disproportionally affecting women, the disease is closely intertwined with the current opioid crisis. Driven by serial entrepreneurs and supported by top-tier scientific advisors, Salvia aims to provide relief to patients from this disabling disease.
 
We look forward to seeing Salvia bring its device into the clinic and relief to patients.

Please find the full press release here.

Thuja portfolio company Nutrileads successfully closes a new financing round to boost growth

3 September 2020 - Utrecht

Today Nutrileads announces a new financing round that will enable them to bring their first product to market. We are thrilled to be part of this new financing round of Nutrileads, and welcome the entry of new investors Icos Capital and Groeie Grutten Impact Fund, who are experienced in the fields of health and nutrition.

Nutrileads identifies and develops natural food ingredients with (yet to be) proven health benefits. The proof for such a benefit (a "health claim") is obtained by demonstrating the benefits in controlled clinical trials. Subsequently the ingredient and products carrying the ingredient will require approval by the authorities to use such claims commercially towards health professionals and consumers.

As an investor in the healthcare space, in particular in the development of novel therapeutics, Thuja is very familiar with proving health claims through clinical trials and the associated regulatory rigor that is required. Hence, we are also open to food-based products pursuing health claims, as long as there is a solid scientific basis underpinning the proposition and a team that understands this business really well. Nutrileads ticks all boxes in this respect.

We firmly believe that selected food ingredients with proven health benefits can contribute to the health of consumers and prevent disease. In those people with health issues such natural health ingredients are important to promote speedy recovery. Hence, Nutrileads fits well to our ambition to promote healthcare.

Please find the full press release here.

Argenx raises $750 million in gross proceeds in a global offering

argenx (Euronext & Nasdaq: ARGX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a deep pipeline of differentiated antibody-based therapies for the treatment of severe autoimmune diseases and cancer, announced today the pricing of a global offering of ordinary shares represented by American Depository Shares (ADSs) in the United States and certain other countries outside of European Economic Area and a simultaneous private placement of ordinary shares in the European Economic Area.

The Company anticipates total gross proceeds of approximately $750.0 million (approximately €682.4 million) from the sale of 2,584,138 ADSs at a price of $205.00 per ADS and the sale of 1,074,377 ordinary shares at a price of €186.52 per ordinary share. Each of the ADSs offered in the offering represents the right to receive one ordinary share, nominal value of €0.10 per share. The U.S. offering and the European private placement are currently expected to close simultaneously on June 1, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions.

In addition, argenx has granted the underwriters of the offering a 30-day option to purchase up to 548,777 ordinary shares (which may be represented by ADSs) on the same terms and conditions.

argenx’s ADSs are currently listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “ARGX,” and argenx’s ordinary shares are currently listed on Euronext Brussels under the symbol “ARGX.”

J.P. Morgan, Cowen and BofA Securities are acting as joint bookrunning managers for the offering. Stifel, JMP Securities, Wedbush PacGrow, Nomura and Kempen & Co are acting as co-managers for the offering.

The securities are being offered in the United States pursuant to an automatically effective shelf registration statement that was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the securities was filed with the SEC on May 26, 2020. The final prospectus supplement relating to the securities will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. When available, copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the U.S. offering may be obtained for free from J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by telephone at (866) 803-9204, or by email at prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com; from Cowen and Company, LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, Attn: Prospectus Department, by email at PostSaleManualRequests@broadridge.com, or by telephone at (833) 297-2926; or from BofA Securities, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255-0001, Attn: Prospectus Department, or by email at dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com.

A request for the admission to listing and trading of the ordinary shares (including the ordinary shares underlying the ADSs) on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels will be made. A prospectus for the listing of the ordinary shares on Euronext Brussels consisting of a universal registration document dated 31 March 2020, an amendment to the aforementioned universal registration document, a securities note and a summary (together, the “Listing Prospectus”) will be filed with the Dutch regulator (“Stichting Autoriteit Financiële Markten”) (the “AFM”) for approval and passporting to Belgium in accordance with article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on the prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market, and repealing Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended, the “Prospectus Regulation”).  Upon approval, the Listing Prospectus together with a Dutch translation of the summary will be made available on the website of argenx (www.argenx.com) and copies may be obtained for free from argenx upon request at info@argenx.com or by telephone at (32) 9 310 34 19.

This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute, and should not be construed as, an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is not permitted or to any person or entity to whom it is unlawful to make such offer, solicitation or sale. Reference is also made to the restrictions set out in “Important information” below. This press release is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into any state or jurisdiction into which doing so would be unlawful or where a prior registration or approval is required for such purpose.

Please find the full press release here.

Argenx announces Positive Topline Phase 3 ADAPT Trial Results

argenx (Euronext & Nasdaq: ARGX), a global immunology company committed to improving the lives of people suffering from severe autoimmune diseases and cancer, today announced positive topline data from the pivotal ADAPT trial of efgartigimod.

ADAPT met its primary endpoint defined as percentage of responders on the Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) score among acetylcholine receptor-antibody positive (AChR-Ab+) generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) patients. Responders are defined as having at least a two-point improvement on the MG-ADL score for at least four consecutive weeks. Based on these results, argenx plans to submit a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by the end of 2020.

“The efgartigimod data showed rapid and robust responses in people with gMG, as well as a favorable tolerability profile,” said James F. Howard Jr., M.D., Professor of Neurology (Neuromuscular Disease), Medicine and Allied Health, Department of Neurology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and principal investigator for the ADAPT trial. “Patients with this devastating disease can experience chronic and potentially life-threatening muscle weakness that has a major impact on their quality of life, and more treatment options are needed. These data are very encouraging as they show efgartigimod has potential to make a meaningful impact on daily living activities, and we are hopeful they will lead to a new treatment being available for the gMG community.”

Phase 3 ADAPT Trial Design

The Phase 3 ADAPT trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center, global trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of efgartigimod in patients with gMG. A total of 167 adult patients with gMG in North America, Europe and Japan enrolled in the trial and were treated. Enrolled patients had a confirmed gMG diagnosis and an MG-ADL total score of five or greater. Patients were on a stable dose of at least one gMG treatment prior to randomization, including acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, corticosteroids or nonsteroidal immunosuppressive drugs, and were required to remain on that stable dose throughout the primary trial. Patients were eligible to enroll in ADAPT regardless of antibody status, including patients with AChR antibodies (AChR-Ab+) and patients where AChR antibodies were not detected.  

Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive efgartigimod or placebo for a total of 26 weeks as part of the primary trial. ADAPT was designed to enable an individualized treatment approach with an initial treatment cycle followed by a variable number of subsequent treatment cycles. Treatment cycles consist of four infusions of efgartigimod (10mg/kg IV) or placebo at weekly intervals. Retreatment with additional treatment cycles was initiated according to clinical response. The primary endpoint was the number of AChR-Ab+ patients who achieved a response on the MG-ADL score defined by at least a two-point improvement for four or more consecutive weeks. 

After the 26-week primary ADAPT trial, patients were eligible to roll-over into an open-label extension, ADAPT Plus.  

Please read the full press release on the website of argenx.

Indigo diabetes raises a €38 million financing round to advance its diabetes sensor into the clinic

27 July 2020 – Gent, Belgium – Thuja portfolio company Indigo Diabetes concludes a €38 million financing round for a ground-breaking invisible diabetes sensor.

The new investment round was led by Fund+ and will enable Indigo Diabetes to prepare and run a pivotal clinical study. The small sensor chip is designed to be inserted underneath the skin and measure glucose and ketones in people with diabetes. The latter is a worldwide first and aims at enabling the faster detection of life-threatening situations by both the users and their healthcare providers. At the same time, the invisible sensor aims to  substantially improve the quality of life of diabetics worldwide.

"Clinical evidence has proven that continuous glucose monitors  are effective tools for people with diabetes to improve glycemic control. We strongly believe Indigo's invisible sensor is the next stage. Not only will it allow better monitoring and treatment of diabetes, but the psychological impact of continuously painful finger-pricking or having to live daily with visible sensors will be a thing of the past thanks to this Indigo sensor," says Dr Harrold van Barlingen of Thuja Capital.

Thuja capital was the lead investor of the 2016 series A round and has continued its support of Indigo by reinvesting in the current serie B capital round. In addition to this, Harrold van Barlingen will also continue his role a board member.

Please find the full press release here in Dutch and English.

Atro medical receives Eurostarts grant

10 July 2020 – Nijmegen, The Netherlands. An international consortium led by the Dutch med-tech startup ATRO Medical receives  over € 800,000 EUROSTARS funding to address an unmet need for Knee Osteoarthritis patients. These patients often suffer from cartilage degradation related to a dysfunctional meniscus. Based on previous research, the consortium will develop a durable meniscus prosthesis for the outer knee compartment to relief pain and restore mobility. This would change the life of thousands of osteoarthritis patients.

Knee osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Loss of meniscus tissue  in the younger years can accelerate this disease, leading to complaints such as severe chronic knee pain, stiffness and immobility. Many patients finally end up with a total knee replacement. The Dutch orthopedic startup ATRO Medical has the mission to create a solution for the long, painful period before total knee replacement. 

A durable meniscus prosthesis can serve as a new shock breaker in the knee, reducing bone to bone impacts and as such relief pain in the knee joint. An implant for the inner side of the knee joint is currently in clinical research after ten years of development. However, a solution for the outer knee compartment is still missing. Since forty percent of complaints are apparent in this so-called lateral compartment, many patients would benefit from it.

The consortium of ATRO Medical, the Swiss company Samaplast and the Orthopaedic Research Laboratory (ORL) of the Radboud university medical center receives over € 800,000 EUROSTARS funding as part of a total investment of € 2 million to rapidly change this situation. The team is committed to develop a new meniscus prosthesis for the outer knee compartment and have it ready for a clinical trial within just two years’ time. Both the durable solution for the outer knee compartment and the short development time would be unique in the orthopedic society.  

The ORL has been involved in meniscus research for many years as biomechanical expert and was part of the team developing the IP for this innovation. Samaplast is specialized in injection molding of high-precision and medical grade products out of plastic. ATRO Medical is a spin-off from the Radboud university medical center and DSM Biomedical and focuses on the design of durable meniscus prostheses. These three parties together have the required expertise to bring the new meniscus prosthesis to life with EUROSTARS funding. 

EUROSTARS supports international innovative projects led by R&D performing SMEs such as ATRO Medical, that help improve the daily lives of people around the world. This EU program aims to bring increased value to the economy, higher growth and more job opportunities. 

Please find the full press release here in English and Dutch.

Mellon Medical raises new financing round to advance its single-handed surgical suturing device.

15 June 2020 – The Hague, The Netherlands. Mellon Medical, a Dutch company focusing on the development of single handed surgical suturing devices, today announced the closing of a new financing round, to further advance the Switch® towards market introduction. The Switch® is a (single patient use) precision surgical suturing device for abdominal wall closure, ideal for enabling the ‘small bites’ technique. This will reduce the risk of complications such as post-surgery incisional hernia, resulting in improved patient outcome and a substantial reduction of healthcare costs.

Along with this agreement Demcon will become a new shareholder in Mellon, contributing to the € 4 million in new development funds together with existing shareholders BioGeneration Ventures, David Pyott, OostNL, Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM) and Thuja Capital. Thuja, OostNL and BOM were the founding investors of Mellon Medical.

Please find the full press release here in English and Dutch.

Thuja Advisory Board Member Herbert Heyneker receives Dutch Royal Honor

Herbert Heyneker, Advisory Board Member to the Thuja investment team, has been honored by the Dutch Monarchy for his contributions and commitment to biotechnology in the Netherlands and Leiden. Heyneker has been awarded the rank of Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau and received this prestigious Royal award yesterday from the Mayor of Leiden, Henri Lenferink, during a symposium held in honor of the 35th anniversary of the Leiden Bioscience Park.

After earning his Ph.D. from Leiden University in The Netherlands, Heyneker moved in 1975 to San Francisco to accept a postdoc position in Prof. Herbert Boyer’s UCSF laboratory. Here he was involved in pioneering research into gene splicing and somatostatin. Soon afterward, he joined Genentech, founded by Boyer and Swanson, as one of their first employees. In 1984, he moved to the Genentech spinoff Genencor to become Vice-President of Research. In the 90s he co-founded several biotechnology companies including Eos, a functional genomics company, where he was the Chief Technology Officer. He also served on the board of directors for GenPharm and Guava Technologies in the U.S. and the Netherlands for IntroGene (acquired by Crucell), Pharming, Pepscan, ProFibrix, and Prosensa. He is an author on more than 50 scientific papers and inventor on more than 30 patents. Besides his advisory role at Thuja, Herb currently advises to Qiagen and various biotech start-ups, and is Chariman of the Board at Leiden based Mimetas.

Cristal Therapeutics appoints Dr Werner Cautreels as Chairman of the Board and Andre Verwei as CFO

Maastricht, The Netherlands – Cristal Therapeutics, a Phase 2 clinical stage pharmaceutical company developing targeted nanomedicines for the treatment of cancer and other diseases with high unmet patient need, announces that Dr Werner Cautreels is joining the Company’s supervisory board taking on the role of Chairman. Dr Cautreels succeeds Simon Sturge, who steps down to focus on his new role as CEO at Kymab. In addition, Andre Verwei is appointed as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with immediate effect.

Dr Cautreels was most recently CEO of Selecta Biosciences (SELB: NASDAQ) until his retirement in December 2018, to pursue a portfolio career. Previously he held senior management positions at Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi, Sterling Winthrop and NycomedAmersham in Europe and in the USA. Dr Cautreels has a Ph.D from the University of Antwerp and an Executive MBA from Harvard Business School.

Andre Verwei brings global experience in partnering and financing at a critical time in Cristal Therapeutics’ development as it looks to partner its lead programme CPC634 and to raise additional finance to progress its business strategy. Over the last 20 years he has held senior financial roles at numerous private and listed biotech companies including ProQR (PRQR: NASDAQ), UniQure (QURE: NASDAQ), and IsoTis. He has played an instrumental role across various corporate transactions as well as supporting the IPOs of ProQR on NASDAQ and Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics (later acquired by UniQure) on Euronext Amsterdam. Andre has an MSc in business economics and a RA (Dutch CPA) from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam.

Commenting on his appointment, Dr. Werner Cautreels, Chairman of Cristal Therapeutics said: “I am very pleased to join the Supervisory Board of Cristal Therapeutics as its Chairman and look forward to working with the Board and the Management Team to take the Company to the next stage in its development. I strongly believe that the differentiated therapeutics that are developed using Cristal’s Cripec® nanotechnology platform have the potential to make a significant contribution to the high medical need for patients in oncology and other therapeutic areas.”

Commenting on his appointment, Andre Verwei, CFO of Cristal Therapeutics said: “It is an exciting time to be joining Cristal Therapeutics’ management team, as the Company matures. The Company has built an excellent CriPec® nanotechnology platform and is poised to become a global player in the field of nanomedicines, an area which has huge potential.”

Dr. Axel Mescheder, CEO and CMO of Cristal Therapeutics said: “I would like to welcome Werner and Andre to the Company. They both bring a wealth of global industry experience, complementing the skills and expertise that we have. I am confident that they will play a vital role in supporting the next steps in our corporate development, including advancing our clinical drug program and securing business collaborations around our nanotechnology platform.

“On behalf of Cristal Therapeutics I would like to express our deep gratitude to Simon Sturge for his outstanding strategic guidance of the Company over the past 5 years. We wish him every success in his new role at Kymab.”

Alveron Pharma closes series A round to advance a cyclodextrin based procoagulant medicine into the clinic

16 May 2019, Nijmegen, The Netherlands . Alveron Pharma, a newly incorporated company established by Okklo Life Sciences BV and Sanquinnovate (part of Sanquin), is pleased to announce the closing of a EUR 6.5M Series A financing round led by Thuja together with Waterman Ventures and Oost NL. This investment allows Alveron Pharma to select a lead compound, conduct non-clinical studies, and complete a first clinical study to demonstrate safety and obtain a first clinical readout.

Alveron Pharma will focus on a unique class of cyclodextrin-based drugs, that have the ability to promote blood coagulation without inducing it in the absence of bleeding. Alveron’s first target is to reverse the effects of anticoagulants. Anticoagulants (“blood thinners”) are widely prescribed to patients with increased thromboembolic risk. While effective in preventing thrombosis, these drugs also inhibit blood coagulation when this is needed urgently, e.g. in patients who suffer a major bleed or in case of emergency surgery. Anticoagulant related bleedings are not uncommon, and may be serious, and difficult to treat since no or only selective reversal agents are available. Alveron’s cyclodextrins are unique in the sense that they restore coagulation independent of the type of anticoagulant used. Sales of selective reversal agents have been estimated at around $2 billion per annum.

Ben Nichols, CEO of Alveron Pharma: “There is a clear unmet clinical need for a universal anti-coagulant reversal agent, and the early pre-clinical data for Alveron’s unique cyclodextrin compounds are compelling. Having recently taken a new class of coagulant into clinical trials, I am thrilled to be joining the founders of this business,  Stephan Peters (who conceived the original idea, CSO) and Alex Zwiers (COO), with their expertise on cyclodextrins, and coagulation expert at Sanquin, Joost Meijers  (Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board). Alex was also involved in the development of the world’s first cyclodextrin-based medicine, Bridion®.” 

“Multiple factors come together in this investment that are highly attractive”, says Michel Briejer of Thuja, who led this transaction. “A highly experienced and knowledgeable team, a promising set of drug leads, and a reputable partner in the field of blood, Sanquin. We are extremely pleased to be part of this venture and are confident that Alveron will create success for doctors and patients alike.”

Synerkine Pharma Raises EUR3.3 Million in Series A Financing

25 March 2019, Utrecht, The Netherlands – Synerkine Pharma B.V., which develops fusion proteins for the treatment of chronic pain, announced today that it successfully closed a EUR 3.3 million Series A financing from Thuja Capital, an undisclosed private investor, and the company’s founders.

Hans Preusting, co-founder and CEO of Synerkine Pharma, said: “We are delighted with the closing of the Series A financing. The proceeds will allow us to deliver a pre-clinical proof of concept in osteoarthritis and neuropathic pain over the next two years. Our lead compound licensed from the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU), a fusion protein of IL4 and IL10, has been shown to significantly reduce chronic pain in multiple pre-clinical models. The therapeutic potential of fusion proteins that mimic endogenous immune molecules and are devoid of the typical analgesic side-effects is substantial in a broad range of pain indications.”

About Synerkine Pharma

Synerkine Pharma focuses on developing novel fusion proteins for the treatment of inflammatory, neuropathic and osteoarthritic pain. Synerkine Pharma was founded in 2018 and has licensed the exclusive rights of its lead compound, a fusion protein of IL4 and IL10, from the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU), the Netherlands. This fusion protein targets common regulatory mechanisms in different types of chronic pain, and has unique properties as demonstrated by UMCU researchers, who showed that it is effective in reducing pain in multiple pre-clinical models. The ability to treat pain with drugs that mimic endogenous immune molecules and are based on a different mechanism of action than the current anti-analgesic drugs holds tremendous therapeutic and commercial potential.

For further enquiries:

Hans Preusting, PhD, MBA
Chief Executive Officer
+31 620 783 355
hans@synerkinepharma.com