Oxford, England, 6th September 2018

PharmaVentures Ltd (“PharmaVentures”) is pleased to announce that it acted as exclusive adviser to Vital Food Processors Ltd (“Vital Foods”), an agricultural science company founded in New Zealand, on an asset purchase agreement with Mundipharma for the global rights beyond New Zealand to commercialise Zyactinase™ – a clinically-proven gastrointestinal consumer health product.

Zyactinase™is the basis of market leading, natural, plant-based consumer health products for the promotion of digestive health.  Zyactinase™ is a freeze-dried extract of Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) that has been developed as a constipation relief product as well as for long-term gut health. It contains a protease complex, fiber, pectin and fructo-oligosaccharides that stimulates increased bowel movements.

Under the agreement, Mundipharma will initially focus on the commercialising of Zyactinase™ to establish a foothold in the US and Canada markets, while continuing to supply existing partners. It will then look to expand its marketing and distribution footprint globally.

This agreement will also enable the extension of the company’s Senokot®product range in the US, which is also an all natural, clinically proven digestive health supplement for the treatment of constipation. (see http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mundipharma-closes-acquisition-of-vital-food-processors-limited-assets-and-secures-global-rights-to-692559241.html)

Adrian Dawkes, Managing Director, who led the deal at PharmaVentures, commented; “The consumer health space has seen significant deal activity recently and, not surprisingly, there was a lot of interest in Vital Foods’ assets. We are delighted to have been able to secure this deal with Mundipharma who are ideally placed to maximise the potential of Zyactinase”.

Fintan Walton, Founder and Chief Executive of PharmaVentures said; “We are particularly pleased to have brought PharmaVentures’ broad experience and skills to bear in another cross-border deal where the pairing of high-quality assets from Vital Foods with an ideal acquirer in Mundipharma has resulted in an excellent outcome for all”.

Oxford, UK, 20 August 2018

PharmaVentures Ltd. (“PharmaVentures”) is pleased to announce that it acted as an independent adviser to SalvaRx Group plc (SALV:LSE) (“SalvaRx”) and Portage Biotech, Inc (“Portage”), on the acquisition of its subsidiary SalvaRx Ltd by Portage. Subject to regulatory and shareholder consent, Portage will acquire 100% of SalvaRx Limited for an aggregate consideration of US$71.7 Million. 

SalvaRx is a related party of Portage, the transaction is subject to the requirements of Alberta Securities Commission’s Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Shareholders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”). As a consequence, the Transaction requires minority shareholder approval.

Although the transaction is exempt from the formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to Section 5.5(a) PharmaVentures was commissioned by SalvaRx and Portage to perform an independent valuation (the “Valuation”) of SalvaRx Limited. The Valuation, dated July 23, 2018, provided the parties with, amongst other things, a discussion of various methodologies to value SalvaRx Limited as well as a range of possible values.

For more information see the Portage Biotech press release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/portage-to-acquire-salvarx-limited-300696910.html.

Adrian Dawkes, Managing Director, PharmaVentures, commented; “We have worked previously with SalvaRx and were pleased to provide our extensive valuation capabilities and market knowledge to assist in this transaction”.

Fintan Walton, Founder and Chief Executive of PharmaVentures said; “PharmaVentures is trusted by long established pharmaceutical companies, governments as well as innovative biotechs like SalvaRx to provide high quality, robust and comprehensively researched valuations to support their key strategic transactions. We are pleased to have assisted SalvaRx in their endeavors”. 

PharmaVentures strengthens its first class healthcare strategy and dealmaking capabilities with the recruitment of a new Vice President, Ashley Cox.

Ashley has built significant industry experience working directly for a number of pharmaceutical companies, undertaking both Project Execution and Business Development activities.  Most notably, she has worked for firms such as Lundbeck, Teva and Glenmark, where she led business development and sales activities across a wide range of products and services.

Fintan Walton, PhD, Chief Executive of PharmaVentures, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ashley to PharmaVentures. She has an impressive track record in healthcare strategy consulting and dealmaking. Her wealth of experience will add significant value to our clients in their dealmaking and commercial strategy activities”.

Most recently, Ashley worked with SmartAnalyst, Inc., as the Senior Director, European Business Development supporting Global Pharmaceutical and Biotech clients in their disease, asset and portfolio strategy development. Previously, Ashley was Head of Global Business Development for the Prescient Healthcare Group, with a strong focus on Competitive Intelligence and Business Analytics.  Ashley has supported decision making in the majority of the top 20 pharma companies and many biotech companies. She started her career as a Medical Representative and has held a variety of commercial and licensing roles across the pharmaceutical and generics sectors.

Ashley received a BSc. (Hons). in Neuroscience from the University of Glasgow and a Masters in Pharmaceutical Analysis from the University of Strathclyde.

PharmaVentures Capital Limited is pleased to announce that it acted as adviser to Biosceptre International Limited (“Biosceptre”) for the successful Series A private placement from the Chinese conglomerate Tuspark Science & Technology Service Group (Tuspark) through its investment vehicle, Bluesky Partnership II L.P. As Tuspark’s first major overseas investment into biotech, this represents a strong belief in the Biosceptre team and the potential transformative effects their therapies may bring to cancer patients. <!–break–>

Biosceptre’s therapies are focused upon a novel cancer target, nfP2X7, that is completely absent in healthy tissue, but present on tumour tissue in the majority of cancers, including lung, breast, colorectal and prostate. For more information on Biosceptre’s therapies see http://www.biosceptre.com/pipeline/.

This first institutional raise will allow Biosceptre to advance its three oncology clinical assets which are BIL010t, a polyclonal antibody ointment for the topical treatment of non-melanoma skin cancers, BIL06v, a peptide protein conjugate and BIL03s, fully human domain monoclonal, both for systemic uses targeting solid and blood cancers. Clinical trials are being planned in Australia, UK and EU.

Fintan Walton, Chairman and Chief Executive of PharmaVentures, said: “This investment by the Chinese company Tuspark S&T in Biosceptre represents a significant landmark for both the UK Biotechnology sector and PharmaVentures Capital Limited.”

Adrian Dawkes, Managing Director at PharmaVentures, added; “As a long-standing client, PharmaVentures is pleased to have advised Biosceptre on this transaction. We are delighted to have been able to leverage our relationships in China to secure this investment for the company.”

For the past 25 years, PharmaVentures has acted as an advisor to over 700 global pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients in transactions; many covering licensing, mergers, acquisitions, divestments and joint venture activities for companies.

About Biosceptre International

Biosceptre is a Cambridge, UK headquartered biotechnology company focused on developing next generation cancer treatments targeting nfP2X7, an oncology target with exquisite specificity.

Sir Gregory Winter, Founder of Domantis and Cambridge Antibody Technologies, is the Acting Chairman of the Biosceptre Board of Directors and he also chairs the company’s Science Advisory Board.

Biosceptre’s clinical programs include systemic antibody-based therapeutics and vaccines, intended to treat a significant range of cancer types. With one successful Phase I trial completed, Biosceptre will be progressing a number of clinical trials across a range of cancer indications. These trials will seek to further advance the establishment of nfP2X7 as a new and important target for the successful treatment of a range of human cancers.

About Tus-Holdings

Tus-Holdings is a large integrated enterprise established in reliance on Tsinghua University. It takes full responsibility for developing, constructing, operating and managing the Tsinghua University Science Park, and is one of the first National Demonstration Enterprises in modern service industry. It is the controlling shareholder of over 500 listed & non-listed enterprises, and the total assets under its management have exceeded GBP 15 billion. Tus-S&T Service Group is the equity investment platform of Tus-Holdings, who directly lead this cooperation.

This Press release is issued by PharmaVentures Capital Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and is for information purposes only. This communication does not constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or engage in any investment products, securities or services and should not be deemed as such.

OXFORD, UK, October 28th, 2016

PharmaVentures is pleased to announce that it acted as adviser to IDT Australia Limited for the successful divestment of CMAX, a dedicated clinical trials business, to the Japanese healthcare company I’rom Group Co. Ltd. for a minimum AUD 14,000,000. 

The acquisition is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, and as part of the agreed upon structure of the deal, IDT will establish and integrate the CMAX business within a new company (henceforth referred to as NewCo).  I’rom Group will initially acquire 61% of the shares of NewCo; and I’rom Group and IDT will jointly manage NewCo through their 61% and 39% respective share holdings.  This will allow I’rom Group to integrate the CMAX business and to learn from IDT’s experience in managing CMAX, paving the way for I’rom Group to acquire the remaining shares of NewCo over the next twelve months.

IDT will receive an initial cash payment of AUD 10,000,000 in consideration for 61% of the CMAX business.  A second payment for the remaining 31% of the CMAX business will be a minimum of AUD 4,000,000 (payable at I’rom Group’s election in cash or a combination of cash and forgiveness of IDT shares). The second consideration payment may increase subject to an earn-out provision and a third payment on achieving a specific business milestone.

Stephen Waterman, Managing Director, PharmaVentures said; “We are delighted to have used our expertise in the CRO sector to assist IDT in its strategic move into the specialty generics space.”

Fintan Walton, Chairman and Chief Executive of PharmaVentures said: “This deal both establishes PharmaVentures as a player in the CRO M&A space as well as continuing to demonstrate its expertise in cross-border transactions in the Asia-Pacific region.”

For the past 24 years, PharmaVentures has acted as an advisor to over 700 global pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients in transactions; covering licensing, mergers, acquisitions, divestments and joint venture activities for companies.

About IDT

IDT Australia Ltd recently acquired a portfolio of 23 generic drugs to manufacture and sell via US distribution partners. With IDT’s 2013 Temozolomide ANDA filing this signifies IDT’s move to rapidly become a specialty generics business with near term revenue build up.

IDT (ASX:IDT) is a public Australian pharmaceutical manufacturing company based in Boronia, Victoria, Australia. It has extensive experience in the development and production of high potency and high containment pharmaceutical products for local and international clients. IDT’s facilities are fully cGMP compliant and are regularly audited by the US FDA and Australian TGA. With an experienced team of specialists within world-class facilities, IDT provides a full-scale service for new drug development and scale-up, commercial active drug manufacture as well as a variety of oral and injectable finished drug dose forms.

Through CMAX, its clinical research services business based adjacent to the new Royal Adelaide Hospital in South Australia, IDT also provides full Phase I clinical trials management and delivery, recruitment in specific disease states for Phase II and Phase III trials as well as offering trial packaging, distribution and pharmacy services from the cGMP Boronia facilities.

Click here to see IDT’s Press Release

About I’rom

I’rom Group Co. Ltd is an integrated Japanese healthcare company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. I’rom Group’s primary business is the provision of clinical trial site management services as a Site Management Organisation (“SMO”). I’rom Group have been an IDT shareholder since 2013.  I’rom Group believes that the acquisition of the CMAX business will help grow profits and help the company and its shareholders through an increased corporate value. Furthermore, I’rom Group will be able to acquire knowledge that will assist in growing the company’s existing clinical trial and advanced therapeutics business domains.

OXFORD, UK, July 27st, 2016

PharmaVentures is pleased to announce that it acted as an adviser to the Baylor Scott & White Research Institute in connection with the creation of Denceptor Therapeutics Limited.

Denceptor Therapeutics will develop immunotherapeutic products to treat cancer and auto immune diseases using Baylor Scott & White Reasearch Institutes’s dendritic cell receptor-targeting antibodies. These antibodies will be humanized using Abzena’s Composite Human Antibody™ technology to reduce unwanted drug immunogenicity. Denceptor Therapeutics will operate as a virtual business and outsource its development and manufacturing activities. Baylor Scott & White Research Institute and Abzena will be amoung the outsourced service providers. 

Denceptor Therapeutics has an option to exclusively license antibodies from Baylor Scott & White Research Institute with a sub-license to the humanized versions of the antibodies created by Abzena. The antibodies will deliver antigens to specific receptor on dendritic cells to induce or suppress an immune response in order to treat a variety of cancers and autoimmune diseases.

Nigel Borshell, Vice President, PharmaVentures said: “Collaborations like this are a valuable way of bringing together key technologies and skills so that the whole is greater than sum of the parts. Understanding the value of the contributing parts is key to a successful relationship.“

Fintan Walton, Chief Executive, PharmaVentures said: “We were delighted to be able to provide Baylor with our extensice commercial sector expertise and help them in the establishment of this exciting new venture with Abzena plc.“

The Baylor Scott & White Research Institute is an affiliate of the Baylor Scott & White Health, which conducts over 5 million patient encounters annually, and have 6000 medical staff members and 48 hospitals that are owned, operated, joint-ventured or affiliated.

Abzena (AIM: ABZA) provides proprietary technologies and complementary services to enable the development and manufacture of biopharmaceutical products. The Group has a global customer base which includes the majority of the top 20 biopharmaceutical companies as well as large and small biotech companies and academic groups.

For the past 24 years, PharmaVentures has acted as an advisor to over 700 global pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients in transactions; covering licensing, mergers, acquisitions, divestments and joint venture activities for companies.