SV Health Investors Secures $269m for DDF-2 Fund Focusing on Dementia Therapeutics

Funding | May 20, 2025 | SV Health Investors, LLC

SV Health Investors has announced the closing of its second fund, DDF-2, for the Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF), securing $269 million in commitments. The DDF is a significant venture capital initiative, investing exclusively in novel therapeutics for dementia, with a portfolio that spans across the US, UK, and Europe. With more than $550 million raised to date, the fund's mission is to tackle the worldwide public health crisis of dementia, affecting over 55 million people globally, and is supported by cornerstone investors such as AARP, British Business Bank, Gates Frontier, and several major pharmaceutical companies. The team at SV Health Investors aims to leverage their extensive expertise and global network to build and support innovative biotech companies developing life-changing treatments while delivering returns to investors. As dementia presents not only a human cost but also an economic burden, SV Health Investors, under the leadership of Managing Partner Kate Bingham, emphasizes the necessity for innovation and research in finding therapies to address this unmet need.

Sectors

  • Venture Capital
  • Biotechnology
  • Healthcare
  • Pharmaceuticals

Geography

  • United States – SV Health Investors has a significant presence and investment activities in the US, as noted in the article.
  • United Kingdom – The article mentions that SV Health Investors has an office in London and conducts significant operations in the UK.
  • Europe – SV Health Investors targets investment opportunities in Europe as part of its DDF-2 strategy.

Industry

  • Venture Capital – The article discusses SV Health Investors raising funds through their Dementia Discovery Fund, which is a specialized venture capital fund.
  • Biotechnology – SV Health Investors focuses on investing in biotech companies developing novel therapeutics for dementia.
  • Healthcare – The targeted investments are in healthcare, specifically addressing dementia treatments.
  • Pharmaceuticals – The article mentions support and involvement from major pharmaceutical companies such as Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, and Pfizer in the fund.

Financials

  • $269 million – The final committed amount raised for the DDF-2 fund managed by SV Health Investors.
  • $550 million – The total amount raised to date by the Dementia Discovery Fund, including DDF-1 and DDF-2.

Participants

NameRoleTypeDescription
SV Health Investors, LLCPrivate Equity FirmCompanySV Health Investors is a healthcare-focused venture capital firm managing the Dementia Discovery Fund.
Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF)Target FundCompanyDDF is the world's largest venture capital fund family investing in therapeutics for dementia, managed by SV Health Investors.
AARPInvestorCompanyAARP is one of the cornerstone investors supporting the DDF-2 fund.
British Business BankInvestorCompanyThe British Business Bank is among the cornerstone investors in the DDF-2 fund.
Gates FrontierInvestorCompanyGates Frontier, associated with other major investors, supports the DDF-2 fund.
Bristol Myers SquibbInvestorCompanyA pharmaceutical company that is one of the investors in the DDF-2 fund.
Eli LillyInvestorCompanyEli Lilly is a pharmaceutical company contributing to the DDF-2 fund.
PfizerInvestorCompanyPfizer is a major pharmaceutical firm participating as a cornerstone investor in the fund.
Alzheimers AssociationInvestorCharityThe Alzheimers Association joined as a support entity for the final close of the DDF-2 fund.
Kate BinghamManaging PartnerPersonKate Bingham is the Managing Partner at SV Health Investors, actively involved in the DDF-2 fund initiative.
Jonathan BehrPartnerPersonJonathan Behr is a Partner at SV Health Investors, contributing to the development and investment strategies of DDF-2.
Laurence BarkerPartnerPersonLaurence Barker is a Partner at SV Health Investors with a focus on neuroscience R&D.
Christian JungPartnerPersonChristian Jung is a Partner at SV Health Investors, advocating for science-driven investment strategies.