LifeArc Ventures 2024: Capital Deployed in New Investments and Strategic Advances in Portfolio
Funding | Jan 30, 2025 | PR Newswire Cision LifeArc
LifeArc Ventures, the venture arm of the medical research charity LifeArc, has reported a productive year in 2024 with several strategic moves, including the addition of three new companies to its portfolio. The company participated in Fluid Biomed's $27 million Series A round and invested in two stealth therapeutics firms, further expanding its footprint in life sciences. LifeArc Ventures' portfolio now consists of 17 companies in therapeutics and medtech focusing on innovative science aimed at improving patient outcomes. Alongside new investments, the firm made numerous follow-on investments, including Ikarovec's gene therapy and Affect Therapeutics' digital platform for substance use disorder treatment. The year also saw significant developments in its existing portfolio, with notable advancements from AviadoBio, RQ Biotechnology, and Closed Loop Medicine. These accomplishments reflect LifeArc Ventures' ongoing commitment to supporting early-stage companies and fostering groundbreaking scientific advancements.
Sectors
- Life Sciences
- Venture Capital
Geography
- United Kingdom – LifeArc Ventures is based in the UK, and a number of portfolio companies and investments are UK-focused.
- United States – The article includes investments and advancements related to US-based companies and activities.
- Canada – LifeArc Ventures participated in a Canadian company's Series A financing round, Fluid Biomed Inc.
Industry
- Life Sciences – The article focuses on investments in life sciences, specifically early-stage therapeutics and medtech companies.
- Venture Capital – LifeArc Ventures is highlighted as a venture capital arm investing in innovative life sciences companies.
Financials
- 27,000,000 USD – The amount raised by Fluid Biomed Inc. in its Series A financing round, which LifeArc Ventures participated in.
- 2.18 billion USD – The potential license fees and milestone payments from Astellas to AviadoBio if the gene therapy licensing agreement progresses fully.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LifeArc Ventures | Investor | Company | The venture capital arm of LifeArc, investing in early-stage life science companies. |
| Fluid Biomed Inc. | Portfolio Company | Company | A Canadian medical device company that received investment from LifeArc Ventures. |
| Cytospire Therapeutics | Portfolio Company | Company | A UK-based company developing multispecific engager antibodies, part of LifeArc Ventures' portfolio. |
| AviadoBio | Portfolio Company | Company | Involved in a licensing deal for gene therapy with Astellas, part of LifeArc's portfolio. |
| RQ Biotechnology | Portfolio Company | Company | Developed an antibody licensed to AstraZeneca, part of LifeArc's portfolio. |
| Clare Terlouw | Head of LifeArc Ventures | Person | Leads LifeArc Ventures and comments on its investment strategy. |