Abingworth life science investment
 


Portfolio Companies

Abingworth Bioventures V

Algeta
(Oslo, Norway) is a publicly traded oncology company developing novel alpha-emitting therapeutics for the treatment of bone metastases. The company’s lead product has significantly increased patient survival in a clinical trial for bone metastases in hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Algeta is Abingworth’s first VIPE (Venture Investment in Public Equity) and is listed on the Oslo stock exchange. (02/09)
Amarin
(Dublin, Ireland, and Connecticut, CT) is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company focusing on cardiovascular disease. The company’s lead product is a prescription grade omega-3 fatty acid that is marketed in the US for hypertriglyceridaemia. It has also shown positive results in Phase III trials for mixed dyslipidaemia. Amarin is a VIPE (Venture Investment in Public Equity) and is listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. (10/09)
Avila Therapeutics
(Waltham, Massachusetts) is developing medicines that have the potential to improve patient outcomes in a fundamentally new way. Using a proprietary platform, Avila generates novel covalent drugs that bind irreversibly to specific disease-causing proteins, thereby 'silencing' them and eradicating the corresponding disease. The company is developing therapies for a number of diseases including viral infections, cancers and autoimmune conditions. The company was acquired by Celgene in January 2012. (01/07)
Chiasma
(New York and Jerusalem, Israel) is a biopharmaceutical company developing oral drugs that were previously only available by injection, providing patients with pain-free medications that are self-administered. The company’s lead product is in Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of acromegaly. (07/12)
Clovis Oncology
(Boulder, Colorado) is a development-stage company focused on acquiring, developing and commercialising innovative anti-cancer drugs in the US, Europe and other international markets. The management team is comprised of the former executives of Pharmion, an earlier Abingworth portfolio company, which was acquired by Celgene for $2.9 billion in 2008. (05/09)
Cytos Biotechnology
(Zurich, Switzerland) is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment and prevention of common chronic diseases. The company’s lead product has disease modifying potential and is in Phase II clinical trials for allergic asthma. Cytos is a VIPE (Venture Investment in Public Equity) and is listed on the Swiss stock exchange. (04/12)
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals
(Watertown, Massachusetts) is an early-stage company applying its proprietary RNAi technology, known as Dicer Substrate Technology™, to develop novel drugs in multiple therapeutic areas. This second-generation gene-silencing technology can knock down the expression of a targeted gene in a way that is highly selective, specific and more potent than other RNAi approaches. (07/08)
EFV-Thyroid
(Pleasanton, California) and Eisai are conducting Phase III studies in Asia and other parts of the world of Eisai’s thyroid cancer drug, lenvatinib. Usually drugs are launched in Japan and Asia several years after they have been launched in the US and other developed countries, limiting the therapeutic options available to physicians and patients. SFJ Pharmaceuticals intends to reduce this delay. (09/11)
Epigenomics
(Berlin, Germany) is developing oncology diagnostics based on DNA methylation patterns. The company has launched two diagnostics: a blood test for early detection of colorectal cancer is available in the US, Europe, Asia/Pacific and Canada and a bronchial lavage test for the detection of lung cancer is available in Europe. Methylation patterns are changed in certain disease states, potentially giving rise to diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities. Epigenomics is a VIPE (Venture Investment in Public Equity) and is listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange. (04/10)
Hydra Biosciences
(Cambridge, Massachusetts) is using its expertise in the recently discovered Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) family of ion channels, together with a proprietary screening platform for these channels, to discover novel drugs to treat pain, inflammation, cardiovascular conditions and other diseases. TRPs offer numerous drug discovery opportunities in multiple areas of human disease. (10/07)
Intellikine
(San Diego, California) is developing small molecule therapies targeting the PI3K/mTOR pathway for treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases. The company was acquired by Takeda in January 2012. (08/07)
Kspine
(Minneapolis, Minnesota) is developing implantable medical devices for the treatment of spine disorders. (06/08)
Lombard Medical Technologies
(Didcot, England) is a medical device company focused on developing solutions for the $1.1 billion dollar abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair market. AAAs are a balloon-like enlargement of the aorta which, if left untreated, may rupture and cause death. The company’s lead product is an endovascular stent graft that has been specifically designed to solve the problems that exist in treating complex tortuous anatomy, which is often present in advanced AAA disease. The device is currently being commercialised in Europe, with a pivotal clinical trial ongoing in the US. Lombard is a VIPE (Venture Investment in Public Equity) and is listed on the London stock exchange. (05/11)
MD On-Line
(New Jersey, US) is a leading provider of electronic systems that link healthcare providers, insurance companies, pharmacies, laboratories and pharmaceutical companies. The systems enable electronic data capture and entry as well as claim and transaction data submission to payers, helping to make significant cost-savings by eradicating inefficiencies. MD-On-Line offers electronic health records, real-time services for eligibility verification, referrals and electronic remittance advice. (5/11)
Pathwork Diagnostics
(Sunnyvale, California) is developing microarray-based diagnostics to advance cancer care. The company's FDA-cleared Pathwork® Tissue of Origin Test helps to determine the origin of hard-to-identify tumours so that physicians and oncologists can optimise therapies. (09/08)
Personalis
(Palo Alto, California) aims to be the global leader in human genome interpretation, initially for the life sciences research market and ultimately for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. The company is based on proprietary technology developed at Stanford University. The CEO, John West, was formerly CEO of the leading DNA sequencing company, Solexa (a former Abingworth portfolio company). (08/11)
PrimeraDx
(Mansfield, Massachusetts) is developing a proprietary platform and companion assays for quantitative multiplex molecular diagnostics that will improve patient management and reduce overall healthcare costs in the areas of infectious disease and oncology. Primera's novel assays and instrument systems are based on the company’s proprietary STAR (Scalable Target Analysis Routine) technology, which enables simultaneous quantitative measurement of up to 60 genes in a single assay by real-time PCR. (01/08)
Secure EDI
(North Carolina, US) is a healthcare transactions integrator, creating electronic interfaces between medical and dental providers and payors. The company’s suite of Web-based services increases efficiency and helps to reduce costs through real-time adjudication of claims, electronic funds transfers, on-line reconciliation and data mining and informatics. (04/10)
SFJ-aRCC
(Pleasanton, California) and Pfizer are conducting a late-stage trial in Asia of Pfizer's potential kidney cancer treatment, axitinib. Usually drugs are launched in Japan and Asia several years after they have been launched in the US and other developed countries, limiting the therapeutic options available to physicians and patients. SFJ Pharmaceuticals intends to reduce this delay. (01/09)
SFJ-NSCLC
(Pleasanton, California) and Pfizer are conducting a late-stage trial in Europe and Asia of Pfizer's potential non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment, dacomitinib. Usually drugs are launched in Japan and Asia several years after they have been launched in the US and other developed countries, limiting the therapeutic options available to physicians and patients. SFJ Pharmaceuticals intends to reduce this delay. (09/12)
Sientra
(Santa Barbara, California) is focused on the aesthetics and plastic surgery market. The company recently received US approval for its portfolio of silicone gel implants. In addition, Sientra markets an extensive array of products focused on reconstructive surgery and body contouring. (03/12)
Sonitus Medical
(San Mateo, California) has developed the world’s first non-surgical, removable hearing device for transmission of sound via the teeth. The prosthetic device uses the established principle of bone conduction to replace the function of the impaired ear. It has US approval for two indications, single-sided deafness and conductive hearing loss. (05/12)
Stanmore Implants
(Stanmore, England) is a rapidly-growing orthopaedic company focused on saving and restoring the function of limbs and joints. The company is developing novel ITAP technology for attaching prosthetics to the skeletons’ of amputees. Stanmore Implants was formed in 1996 as a vehicle for the further development of the custom orthopaedic implant service operated by University College London’s Centre for Biomedical Engineering. (02/08)
Valeritas
(Parsippany, New Jersey) is developing proprietary drug delivery systems for metabolic diseases. The company's initial product, an insulin patch for type II diabetes, is approved in the US. (09/08)

(Dates in brackets indicate when the first investment was made.)