Rex Health Ventures, which is managed by a community non-profit hospital, has invested $500,000 in Aerial Biopharma, a US-based narcolepsy treatment company.
Aerial was formed in January 2011 by a team of biopharmaceutical entrepreneurs. Aerial’s investigational narcolepsy treatment is in Phase 2 clinical trials.
Rex President David Strong said: “This is precisely why we created Rex Health Ventures and Rex Strategic Innovations: to find and support promising companies with exciting products that could improve the lives of thousands of patients. We look forward to a long and successful relationship with the very capable team at Aerial.”
Rex Health Ventures’ investment is part of an initial $3.8 million equity financing. Other angels investing were led by Dr. David Adair, and venture firm 3G Capital, led by Rakesh Govindji.
Aerial has a product licensed from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Aerial was started by the management team of healthcare companies Addrenex Pharmaceuticals and Neuronex.
REX Health Ventures was set up with a $10m fund from Rex Healthcare.