venBio Raises $550 Million Venture Capital Fund Focused on Life Sciences

On June 3, 2021 venBio reported the closing of venBio Global Strategic Fund IV, LP ("venBio Fund IV"), its fourth life sciences venture capital fund, exceeding its target and closing on approximately $550 million in capital commitments in an oversubscribed fundraise (Press release, Venbio Partners, JUN 3, 2021, View Source [SID1234583470]). The capital was raised from existing and new investors, including a broad range of institutional investors comprising corporate pensions, financial institutions, university endowments and foundations, family offices and funds-of-funds.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Led by Managing Partners Corey Goodman, Ph.D., Robert Adelman, M.D., Aaron Royston, M.D., and Richard Gaster, M.D., Ph.D., venBio Fund IV will continue to invest primarily in therapeutics companies that are developing biopharmaceuticals for unmet medical needs. The venBio team takes an active role with each of their portfolio companies, providing strategic guidance on a range of business activities including intellectual property, chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC), as well as assisting with clinical trials: from trial design to endpoints to regulatory deliberations.

"We remain committed to our unique approach and strategy and hope the results speak for themselves – our portfolio companies have delivered four drugs to market for six clinical indications, and another seven drug candidates are demonstrating promising late-stage efficacy," said Dr. Adelman.

"Our portfolio is directly impacting patient lives and we could not have accomplished that without the ongoing commitment from our limited partners, and we are grateful for their continued support for Fund IV," said Dr. Goodman. "With Fund IV we intend to continue our proven approach of helping to build 12-15 companies per fund while doubling down on winners by providing stronger support for our portfolio companies in crossover rounds and at IPO."

"We are delighted to announce with the closing of Fund IV, the promotion of Dr. Rich Gaster to Managing Partner," said Dr. Royston. "Our core investment team and investment strategy remain the same as we launch our new fund."

"Our strategy at venBio has always been to turn exceptional science into impactful medicine," said Dr. Gaster. "Every member of our team is involved in every investment that we make, and we believe this collaborative approach is what helps drive our success."

Sidley Austin LLP served as legal adviser to venBio.