Seroba Kernel Life Sciences confirm additional €3.3M Investment in Opsona Therapeutics
Dublin, Ireland, 19 May 2009: Seroba Kernel Life Sciences confirmed today that the Roche Venture Fund (the
corporate venturing arm of pharmaceutical company Roche) and Enterprise Ireland have
invested a total of €3.3m in Seroba Kernel investee Opsona Therapeutics. This follows
a syndicated investment in February 2009 bringing the total Series B financing round to
€21.3m.
"Roche is excited about investing in Opsona. Opsona's scientific founder, Professor
Luke O'Neill of Trinity College Dublin, is world renowned for his expertise in Toll-like
receptors and innate immunity," said Carole Nuechterlein, Head of the Roche Venture
Fund when commenting on the announcement.
Seamus O’Hara, Partner at Seroba Kernel Life Sciences added "Roche is a significant
global player in the therapeutic areas of interest to Opsona and its participation in this
funding round, along side the corporate venturing arms of Novartis and Genentech,
represents excellent corporate validation and also adds an important source of
commercial support for the company as it moves its lead products towards the clinic."
Commenting on today’s announcement John O’Dea, Head of Lifesciences in the High
Potential Start Up Department in Enterprise Ireland said: "Opsona epitomises the type
of innovative high potential company that EI is keen to support, and shows what can be
achieved when the ambition and energy of a company are harnessed and supported.
The company has a solid business strategy and strong links with industry and
universities. Opsona has grown its product pipeline by investing intensively in
collaborative R & D."
Notes to Editors:
About Opsona Therapeutics
Opsona is a drug development company, focused on novel therapeutic and preventative
approaches to autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The company was founded in
2004 with three of Trinity College Dublin’s respected Immunologists (Professors Luke
O’Neill, Kingston Mills and Dermot Kelleher) with backing form Seroba Bioventures. The
company is specifically interested in drugs which modulate the innate immune system
and its signaling, specifically Toll-Like Receptors (TLR). Opsona has a pipeline of
therapeutics in advanced pre-clinical development which modulate the innate immune
system, including biologics and small molecules. The company has signed some
significant partnering and collaborative deals, such as with Wyeth (USA). The company
is based in Dublin and also has laboratories in Lausanne, Switzerland.
www.opsona.com
About Seroba Kernel Life Sciences
Seroba Kernel is a dedicated life science venture capital fund manager with offices in
Ireland and the UK. The firm recently announced the first close of Seroba Kernel Life
Sciences Fund II with over €75m in committed capital. The fund invests in European life
science companies with the majority of its capital to be invested in Ireland and the UK.
www.seroba-kernel.com
For media queries please contact:
Seamus O’Hara
Seroba Kernel Life Sciences
Phone: +353 1 6334028
Fax: +353 1 6779388
Mobile: +353 86 2479066
www.seroba-kernel.com
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