No Yes Ok

LSP leads € 20 million Series A equity financing round in Innovative Molecules



  • Proceeds dedicated to advance Herpes simplex treatment IM-250 to Phase II
  • IM-250 demonstrates unprecedented impact on viral reservoir in preclinical studies

 

Munich, Germany, June 9, 2021 - LSP, one of Europe’s leading life sciences and healthcare investors, today announced its investment in Innovative Molecules GmbH, a German, Munich-based drug development company. Innovative Molecules is focused on developing next-generation treatments for Herpes simplex-induced diseases. The € 20 million Series A equity financing round was led by LSP, investing from its LSP 6 fund.

 

The company will use the funds to advance its preclinical product candidate, IM-250, from the current late preclinical stage to a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study.

 

IM-250 is a potent inhibitor of Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) replication. The compound targets the helicase-primase enzyme complex of the virus. Due to its demonstrated impact on the viral reservoir in preclinical studies, IM-250 may become a game-changer for the treatment of HSV-related diseases due to its potential to alter the natural course of the disease.

 

Gerald Kleymann, founder & Chief Executive Officer at Innovative Molecules, comments: ”Within the last 25 years the treatment of Herpes simplex has not seen an innovation that managed to reach the market. Our ambition is to change this. With IM-250 we will alter the way Herpes is treated. Our goal is to reduce or even eradicate the reservoir of the virus in order to achieve long-lasting effects, less recurrences and real benefits for patients.“

 

Joachim Rothe, Managing Partner at LSP, complements: ”I am pleased with LSP leading the investment syndicate of Innovative Molecules. There is an urgent medical need in Herpes-induced diseases. Current treatments have minimal efficacy and cannot change the persistence of the infection. Moreover, resistance to today’s standard treatments occur quite often and can lead to life-threatening complications or even to the death of patients.“

 

Thomas Hoffmann, co-founder & financial advisor to Innovative Molecules, states: “To have gained LSP as one of the leading European life sciences funds as the lead investor for this Series A financing round is truly a quality stamp for our project. We are looking forward to working together with LSP on this exciting drug development opportunity.“

 

About Innovative Molecules
Innovative Molecules GmbH is a drug development company aiming for setting a new treatment standard for Herpes simplex induced diseases. The company is focusing on the development of IM-250, a potent, second generation helicase-primase inhibitor of HSV-1 and HSV-2. Due to its potency, excellent neuronal tissue exposure and long half-life, IM-250 has the potential to change the way Herpes simplex induced diseases are treated. Preclinical data indicates that IM-250 does not only block active viral replication but might be able to reduce or even eradicate the viral reservoir, ultimately leading to less recurrences or even to a cure from this latent, life-long infection.
For more information: innovativemolecules.com.
 
 
About LSP
LSP is one of the largest European investment firms providing financing for life sciences and health care companies. LSP’s management has raised over €2 billion ($2.5 billion) and supported the growth of 300 companies since it started to invest in 1988, including signature deals such as argenx, Crucell and Neuravi. With offices in Amsterdam, Munich and Boston, LSP currently has the possibility to invest through five strategies, each having a distinctive investment scope and a dedicated team: LSP 6 invests in private early- to late-stage drug development and medical technology companies; LSP HEF 2 focuses on private late-stage medical technology companies; the LSP Dementia Fund invests in companies targeting neurodegenerative diseases; LSP Public targets public healthcare companies; and EBAC is the first healthcare SPAC to exclusively focus on European biotech. LSP is an active contributor to the global life sciences industry and the European life science eco-system by assuming for-profit and not-for-profit roles as initiators, founders and board members in various private and public bodies and organizations, for example being founder and board member of the Oncode Institute. For more information: lspvc.com.
 
 
For more information please contact:
Joachim Rothe, Managing Partner at LSP
+49 (0) 89 120 850 90

 

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No Yes Ok

LSP leads € 20 million Series A equity financing round in Innovative Molecules



  • Proceeds dedicated to advance Herpes simplex treatment IM-250 to Phase II
  • IM-250 demonstrates unprecedented impact on viral reservoir in preclinical studies

 

Munich, Germany, June 9, 2021 - LSP, one of Europe’s leading life sciences and healthcare investors, today announced its investment in Innovative Molecules GmbH, a German, Munich-based drug development company. Innovative Molecules is focused on developing next-generation treatments for Herpes simplex-induced diseases. The € 20 million Series A equity financing round was led by LSP, investing from its LSP 6 fund.

 

The company will use the funds to advance its preclinical product candidate, IM-250, from the current late preclinical stage to a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study.

 

IM-250 is a potent inhibitor of Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) replication. The compound targets the helicase-primase enzyme complex of the virus. Due to its demonstrated impact on the viral reservoir in preclinical studies, IM-250 may become a game-changer for the treatment of HSV-related diseases due to its potential to alter the natural course of the disease.

 

Gerald Kleymann, founder & Chief Executive Officer at Innovative Molecules, comments: ”Within the last 25 years the treatment of Herpes simplex has not seen an innovation that managed to reach the market. Our ambition is to change this. With IM-250 we will alter the way Herpes is treated. Our goal is to reduce or even eradicate the reservoir of the virus in order to achieve long-lasting effects, less recurrences and real benefits for patients.“

 

Joachim Rothe, Managing Partner at LSP, complements: ”I am pleased with LSP leading the investment syndicate of Innovative Molecules. There is an urgent medical need in Herpes-induced diseases. Current treatments have minimal efficacy and cannot change the persistence of the infection. Moreover, resistance to today’s standard treatments occur quite often and can lead to life-threatening complications or even to the death of patients.“

 

Thomas Hoffmann, co-founder & financial advisor to Innovative Molecules, states: “To have gained LSP as one of the leading European life sciences funds as the lead investor for this Series A financing round is truly a quality stamp for our project. We are looking forward to working together with LSP on this exciting drug development opportunity.“

 

About Innovative Molecules
Innovative Molecules GmbH is a drug development company aiming for setting a new treatment standard for Herpes simplex induced diseases. The company is focusing on the development of IM-250, a potent, second generation helicase-primase inhibitor of HSV-1 and HSV-2. Due to its potency, excellent neuronal tissue exposure and long half-life, IM-250 has the potential to change the way Herpes simplex induced diseases are treated. Preclinical data indicates that IM-250 does not only block active viral replication but might be able to reduce or even eradicate the viral reservoir, ultimately leading to less recurrences or even to a cure from this latent, life-long infection.
For more information: innovativemolecules.com.
 
 
About LSP
LSP is one of the largest European investment firms providing financing for life sciences and health care companies. LSP’s management has raised over €2 billion ($2.5 billion) and supported the growth of 300 companies since it started to invest in 1988, including signature deals such as argenx, Crucell and Neuravi. With offices in Amsterdam, Munich and Boston, LSP currently has the possibility to invest through five strategies, each having a distinctive investment scope and a dedicated team: LSP 6 invests in private early- to late-stage drug development and medical technology companies; LSP HEF 2 focuses on private late-stage medical technology companies; the LSP Dementia Fund invests in companies targeting neurodegenerative diseases; LSP Public targets public healthcare companies; and EBAC is the first healthcare SPAC to exclusively focus on European biotech. LSP is an active contributor to the global life sciences industry and the European life science eco-system by assuming for-profit and not-for-profit roles as initiators, founders and board members in various private and public bodies and organizations, for example being founder and board member of the Oncode Institute. For more information: lspvc.com.
 
 
For more information please contact:
Joachim Rothe, Managing Partner at LSP
+49 (0) 89 120 850 90

 

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