HBM Healthcare Investments Quarterly Report December 2021 - Seite 3

Among the other public companies, Argenx and ChemoCentryx each benefitted from an FDA market approval. Argenx was granted approval for VYVGART^TM for the treatment of the chronic neuromuscular autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis, characterised by weakness and rapid fatigability of the skeletal muscles, and ChemoCentryx for TAVNEOS^TM for the treatment of ANCA-associated vasculitis, an inflammatory disease of the blood vessels. Furthermore, additional value was added by the acquisition of Dicerna by Novo Nordisk.

Eight new investments in private companies

During the quarter under review, new investments totalling CHF 52 million were made in eight private companies. A further CHF 18 million was invested in current portfolio companies.

Among the new investments, the US company Upstream Bio received an investment commitment of USD 20 million, of which a first tranche of USD 11 million was paid in. Upstream Bio is developing an antibody therapy for the treatment of severe asthma.

In addition, US company Acrivon Therapeutics received USD 8 million for the development of personalised oncology treatments; Mahzi Therapeutics, United States, USD 8 million, of which USD 4 million paid in, for the development of a gene therapy for the treatment of rare diseases; Ignis Therapeutics, China, USD 7 million, of which USD 4.2 million paid in, for the development of licensed therapies for the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system in China. Japanese company Aculys Pharma received USD 5 million for the development of Pitolisant for the treatment of narcolepsy for the Japanese market, and the Italian online pharmacy 1000Farmacie, Italy, EUR 4 million. Finally, the two US companies Freenome Holdings (blood test for the early detection of cancer) and Antiva Biosciences (topical therapies for the treatment of precancerous lesions caused by HPV) each received USD 3 million, of which in the case of Antiva USD 1.5 million paid in.