ANNUAL REPORT 2007 | 2008 - Gimv

VENTURE
CAPITAL
BIOTECH FONDS VLAANDEREN
The Biotech Fonds Vlaanderen was set up in 1994 to provide
venture capital to existing and starting medium and large sized
companies in the Flemish biotechnology sector. The fund’s remit
includes attracting new biotech companies to start or develop
activities in Flanders. In this way the fund is placing Flanders on
the world map of scientifi c research and industrial development.
Gimv manages this fund at the request of the Flemish Region.
In 2007-2008, Biotech Fonds Vlaanderen made follow-on investments
in Ablynx, Actogenix, Diatos, Movetis and Thrombogenics
in an amount of EUR 12.1 million. The fund took no new shareholdings
during the past fi nancial year.
GIMV LIFE SCIENCES’ TEN LARGEST
UNLISTED SHAREHOLDINGS
The Life Sciences portfolio has a total value of EUR 139.6 million.
EUR 36 million of this amount is in listed and EUR 103.6 million
in unlisted companies. At the end of the 2007-2008 fi nancial
year the value of the ten largest unlisted shareholdings
amounted to EUR 59.8 million, or 90 percent of all unlisted
Gimv Life Sciences shareholdings (funds excluded).
Ambit
www.ambitbio.com
See page 49.
Astex Therapeutics
www.astex-therapeutics.com
British biotech company Astex researches and develops new
drugs against cancer and other human diseases for which as
yet no effective cures have been found. The company’s primary
thrust is in oncology, with an emphasis on putting together drugs
that are more effective and less toxic. Since it was founded
in 1999, Astex Therapeutics has developed a whole series of
products with the patented Pyramid platform. These products
are now at the clinical and pre-clinical phase. Astex has
concluded various cooperation agreements with major pharmaceuticals
companies like Novartis, AstraZeneca and Boehringer
Ingelheim. Gimv entered the capital of Astex in 2001.
52 | Gimv Annual Report 2007-2008 | Operating and fi nancial report
Ceres
www.ceres-inc.com
See page 49.
ChemoCentryx
www.chemocentryx.com
ChemoCentryx is a leading late stage biotech company producing
oral drugs for treating auto-immune diseases, infl ammatory
disorders and cancer. It is a pioneer in research into the chemokine
network (network of signal substances) that plays a crucial
role in regulating the immune system. Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid
arthritis and multiple sclerosis are some of the diseases
which ChemoCentryx has programmes to combat. In 2006 it
concluded a cooperation agreement with GlaxoSmithKline for its
Trafi cet-EN treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. The cooperation
with Gimv began in 2002.
Diatos
www.diatos.com
See page 50.
Fovea Pharmaceuticals
www.fovea-pharma.com
See page 50.
Nereus Pharmaceuticals
www.nereuspharm.com
See page 50.