Apollo Health Ventures, a Boston, MA and Berlin, Germany-based venture capital firm specializing in developing and investing in data-driven biotechnology and health technology companies, has closed its second private equity fund. risk at $ 180 million.

. Apollo Health Ventures invests in early or early stage game-changing companies and builds companies in the aging industry. The Apollo team is made up of entrepreneurs, seasoned biotechnology investors, and scientists with a remarkable track record in life science investments and business creation.

The new fund is supported by Apollo’s existing international investor base as well as notable and experienced new investors.

Fund II aims to build a portfolio of data-driven biotechnology and health technology companies aimed at extending the lifespan of human health. It will invest both in the creation of companies as well as in external transactions.

Led by co-founder and partner Nils Regge, Apollo Health Ventures invests in companies targeting well-validated aging pathways with the aim, for example, of maintaining overall health and cell shape, reducing tissue damage caused by chronic inflammation, or restore a healthy immune system to provide more resilience and protection against disease.

The company’s predecessor fund has built and invested in companies developing differentiated therapies for age-related disorders. Companies in the fund’s portfolio include Aeovian Pharmaceuticals, a company that is developing a safer version of rapamycin, a drug that has been shown to extend life expectancy as well as the lifespan of several animal models. Apollo also co-founded Samsara Therapeutics, the world’s largest discovery platform developing autophagy-enhancing molecules covering a wide range of therapeutic indications.

Regge ranks among the most successful European serial entrepreneurs. The companies he founded or co-founded have raised capital in more than 30 fundraisers for a total valuation exceeding $ 1 billion. Since 2017, he has focused on healthcare technology and biotechnology companies. During his career he was involved in several business exits leading to lucrative returns for investors.

The team also includes:

• Dr Jens Eckstein, who joined Apollo Health Ventures in 2019. With over 25 years of biotech venture capital experience and leading roles at TVM Capital and SR One (GSK’s venture capital), he brings a long history of successful transactions to the company, including investments in breakthrough companies like CRISPR Therapeutics.
• Dr Marianne Mertens, who joined Apollo Health Ventures as a partner. She will be responsible for Apollo’s investment and business creation activities. Mertens has over 13 years of experience in the life sciences industry, including roles in research, management consulting and venture capital investing. She was previously at Wellington Partners, a pan-European venture capital firm, and High-Tech Gruenderfonds, Europe’s largest early stage investor.
• Dr Jan Adams, who has been appointed Venture Partner and will focus on building a business at Apollo Health Ventures. Prior to joining Apollo, Adams led the business operations as Head of Business Development / Senior Director at the Merck Innovation Center in Germany and was Managing Director at EMBL Ventures.

FinSME

12/11/2021