AAA September 2011 – Page 7

Merck quadruples corporate venturing

Merck reportedly plans to commit $250m as a limited partner in third-party venture capital funds in pharmaceuticals, although part of the money could also be invested directly, through its Merck Research Venture Fund, according to news provider In Vivo, which said the existing $125m Global Health Innovation Group had been doubled.

Corporates rise early for AM-Pharma

The $40m D round for AM-Pharma was co-led by venture capital firms Ysios Capital Partners and Kurma Life Science Partners and included peers Forbion Capital Partners (which was spun out of local bank ABN Amro), BB Biotech Ventures and Idinvest Partners as well as Inventages Venture Capital, which invests on behalf of Switzerland-based chocolate maker Nestle, Abbott and Shire.