Jan 22, 2013

Lophius Biosciences Closes Financing Round and Appoints January 22, 2013 By Angela Sormani Lophius Biosciences, a developer of T-cell-based diagnostic test systems, has closed a further financing round. VRD GmbH, WIC GmbH and existing investors such as S-Refit, HighTech Gründerfonds, Bayern Kapital and two business angels have backed the business. Prof. Dr. Ralf Wagner, former CEO of GeneArt AG, has been appointed as managing director to drive the further development of the company with the current managing director Dr. Michael Lutz. PRESS RELEASE Lophius Biosciences, a leading developer of novel, innovative T-cell-based diagnostic test systems, announced today the closing of a further financing round. With VRD GmbH and WIC GmbH two new investors will financially support the company alongside existing investors such as S-Refit, HighTech Gründerfonds (HTGF), Bayern Kapital and two Business Angels. With a commitment of about 4 Mio. EUR, Lophius Biosciences intends to fully introduce its technologies and products in the field of T-cell based diagnostics. Prof. Dr. Ralf Wagner, former CEO of GeneArt AG, has been appointed as Managing Director in order to drive the further development of the company together with the current Managing Director Dr. Michael Lutz. Prof. Wagner was founder, CEO and CSO of Regensburg-based company GeneArt AG which specialized in the field of synthetic biology. Following the acquisition by Life Technologies in 2010 he was responsible as Site leader and Vice President Synthetic Biology for the successful integration of GeneArt AG into Life Technologies. As professor for molecular microbiology and gene therapy, Dr Wagner is also member of the Medical faculty at the University of Regensburg. „We are very pleased that the positive development of Lophius Biosciences could be continued and even accelerated with these new funds. With their commitment, the new and existing investors have strongly validated the (recent) successful product developments for the CE-marked T-Track© CMV and EBV-Tests and T-Track© TB (Tuberculosis) based on our two patented technology platforms” said Dr. Michael Lutz, Managing Director of Lophius Biosciences. Prof. Wagner’s strong focus will be on the successful rounding off and launch of the product portfolio together with Dr. Lutz and the whole Lophius Biosciences team. “Lophius Biosciences is a young but very innovative biotech company with the potential to become a fully integrated player in the new field of T-cell based diagnostics. Based on its proprietary know-how the company has many unique selling points for its products to provide significant diagnostic and clinical value to patients and physicians in a number of medical indications. I am happy to become part of this very interesting opportunity”, added Prof. Wagner. „Together with the expanded management the existing investors highly welcome both VRD GmbH and WIC GmbH as new investors who strongly support the current company and investor strategy. With the addition of Prof. Wagner to the management board, the company has clearly accomplished another key milestone. Prof. Wagner and the existing Managing Director Dr. Lutz will form a strong team with outstanding expertise for developing small and medium-sized companies“, added Mr. Bertram Gilka-Bötzow, Head of Lophius Biosciences´ Advisory Board and Investment Director of S-Refit, the current Lead Investor of Lophius Biosciences. Link to the press release Tweet this press release About Lophius Biosciences Lophius Biosciences GmbH develops and markets innovative T-cell based testing systems for diagnostics and possible therapy control in the fields of transplantation, infection and autoimmune diseases. About VRD GmbH VRD GmbH belongs to a family office of a renowned family of entrepreneurs. VRD primarily invests in companies with a strong business model coupled with a high potential and an ambitious management. Sustainability for past, current and future generations is considered a key element in a fair partnership. About WIC GmbH WIC GmbH is a young investment and consulting firm with a focus on identifying biotech companies with innovative technologies and on supporting these companies during the early development stages. The aim of WIC is to jointly develop technologies and products with existing management up to market launch. Doing this in an open partnership will deliver sustainable company success and will allow WIC to participate at the long-term value creation. © 2015 Buyouts Insider / Argosy Group LLC