ANNUAL REPORT 2007 | 2008 - Gimv

VENTURE
CAPITAL
Diatos
www.diatos.com
Franco-Belgian company Diatos, a spin-off of the Institut
Pasteur, is developing anti-cancer therapies using its proprietary
peptide technology. Diatos is seeking to improve the features of
existing therapies and to create new ones with greater effi ciency,
optimised dosage and reduced toxicity and side effects. Diatos
has 40 employees working out of facilities in France, Belgium
and the USA. Gimv co-invested in a series D capital round for
EUR 9.4 million. This new capital will serve to fi nance patient
testing of Diatos’s therapies. The company will shortly be testing
DTS-301, a new breast cancer treatment with reduced side
effects.
Fovea Pharmaceuticals
www.fovea-pharma.com
Fovea Pharmaceuticals was set up in 2005 to research and
develop drugs for treating ophthalmologic disorders, such as
age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and diabetic
retinopathy. Fovea has developed a range of products in
different stages of testing, from pre-clinical products to products
about to undergo clinical testing. Fovea collected EUR 30 million
in a series B fi nancing round from various investors, including
Gimv, Sofi nnova Partners, Forbion and Abingworth. Fovea will
be using the new resources for further developing its pre-clinical
and clinical stage drugs and its technology platform.
Nereus Pharmaceuticals
www.nereuspharm.com
Nereus Pharmaceuticals is a US pharmaceuticals R&D company
that was set up in 1999 to explore new candidate substances.
These Nereus obtains from the sea, which is the planet’s largest
source of microbial diversity. Based on this marine microbiology
Nereus is developing medicines for cancer, infectious diseases
and infl ammations. Two Nereus drugs are at the clinical test
phase. A number of other highly promising candidates are expected
to reach this stage in 2009. 38 people work for Nereus
Pharmaceuticals. Gimv, which has been a shareholder since
2000, took part in a USD 45 million series D fi nancing round.
50 | Gimv Annual Report 2007-2008 | Operating and fi nancial report
DIVESTMENT
deVGen
www.devgen.com
Ghent-based biotech company deVGen, a spin-off of the VIB,
researches, develops and markets biotech products to protect
a wide range of agrocrops against pest organisms. It is also
developing new drugs to treat disorders like diabetes, obesity,
cardiovascular irregularities and infl ammations. In June
2005, deVGen was successfully introduced onto Euronext. In
November 2007 it acquired Monsanto’s seed activities in India.
In so doing deVGen has grown into an integrated player on the
seed market, from lab to farmer. Its headcount has now risen
to over 170. During two private placements in 2007, Gimv sold
a sizeable package of deVGen shares. The remaining participation
was fully realized in 2008. Gimv had been a shareholder in
deVGen since 1997.