Diatos complète une levée de fonds privée de 9,4 millions d'euros (Série D)

Diatos SA, une entreprise biopharmaceutique internationale axée sur la recherche, le développement et la commercialisation de médicaments anticancéreux ciblés, a annoncé qu’elle avait clôturé avec succès une levée de fonds de 9,4 millions d’euros. Cette levée a été menée par des investisseurs actuels de Diatos dont GIMV (Belgique), Crédit Agricole Private Equity (France), InterWest Partners (États-Unis), Innoven Partenaires (France), Sofinnova Partners (France) et Biotech Fund Flanders (Belgique) ; d’autres investisseurs existants ont également participé : AGF Private Equity (France), NIF SMBC (Japon), Sopartec (Belgique), et SGAM (France). Ceci porte à 54,8 millions d’euros le total des fonds propres levés par Diatos depuis sa création en 1999 à ce jour.

Cette nouvelle injection de fonds va permettre à Diatos de poursuivre le développement à pleine capacité de ses produits cliniques phares : DTS-301, une formulation du paclitaxel utilisant un gel polymère, qui a récemment complété des essais Phase IIa et est sur le point d’entrer en Phase IIb/III pour le cancer oesophagien ; DTS 201, un promédicament de la doxorubicine, qui a récemment complété des essais Phase I pour les tumeurs solides et est sur le point d’entrer en Phase II; ainsi que d’élargir vigoureusement son pipeline de produits avec le lancement de DTS-108, un irinotécan prometteur de la deuxième génération, dans des études de toxicologie précliniques GLP et un focus continu sur la production de nouveaux médicaments basés sur sa technologie TSP (Tumor-Selective Prodrug).

Commentant cette opération de financement, Dr John Tchelingerian, Président Directeur Général, a déclaré:

« Nous sommes ravis d’avoir reçu ce soutien financier important de notre groupe d’investisseurs de premier plan qui n’ont cessé de soutenir Diatos et son équipe de direction. La Société revendique désormais une solide position financière avec un portefeuille étendu et équilibré de produits et d’actifs oncologiques. Ce financement va nous permettre de porter nos produits cliniques et précliniques vers leur prochaine phase de maturité et d’atteindre des étapes jalons en termes de développement et de création de valeur. »

À propos de Diatos

Diatos est une entreprise biopharmaceutique vouée à la recherche, au développement et à la commercialisation de médicaments anticancéreux innovants dotés de propriétés de ciblage anti-tumoral ou de biodistribution améliorées. Diatos développe son portefeuille de médicaments candidats avec de nouveaux composés qui utilisent sa technologie de relargage Vectocell(R) ou sa technologie Tumor-Selective Prodrug (TSP), ainsi qu'avec des traitements candidats et commercialisés anticancéreux sous licence. Diatos a son siège à Paris, en France ainsi que des filiales en Belgique et aux États-Unis.

À propos du portefeuille de Diatos

DaunoXome^®, formulation liposomale de la daunorubicine (agent chimiothérapeutique anti-cancer largement utilisé), améliore la biodistribution de la daunorubicine et permet sa libération progressive dans le sang, ce qui autorise potentiellement l’administration de doses plus élevées par rapport aux formulations non liposomales. DaunoXome est commercialisé dans le sarcome de Kaposi et en cours d’enregistrement dans les leucémies aiguës. Le DaunoXome a été acquis sous licence de Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD).

DTS-301, une formulation du paclitaxel utilisant le gel polymère ReGel^®, permet le largage progressif du paclitaxel (agent chimiothérapeutique anti-cancer largement utilisé) directement dans le site tumoral afin d’éviter les effets secondaires systémiques. Le DTS-301 est actuellement en Phase II d’essais cliniques et a été acquis sous licence de Protherics PLC (LSE:PTI / NASDAQ:PTIL).

DTS-201, une prodrogue de la doxorubicine (agent chimiothérapeutique anti-cancer largement utilisé), augmente la concentration de doxorubicine dans le site tumoral par le biais d’un mécanisme de réactivation spécifique à l’environnement tumoral. Le DTS-201 a terminé une Phase I d’essais cliniques en Belgique et en France au T2-2007. Les droits exclusifs européens du DTS-201 ont été acquis sous licence de Medarex Inc.

DTS-108 est une prodrogue du SN-38, le métabolite actif de l’irinotécan (agent chimiothérapeutique anti-cancer largement utilisé) qui est basée sur la technologie Vectocell^®. Actuellement en développement préclinique, le DTS-108 vise à augmenter l’efficacité du SN-38 tout en réduisant la toxicité liée à l’irinotécan.

Pour en savoir plus, veuillez consulter le site web de la société à l'adresse www.diatos.com

About AGF Private Equity – www.agpe.com

AGF Private Equity, a subsidiary of the AGF Insurance Company, member of the Allianz Group, is specialized in non-listed investments. The company manages an investment portofolio close to €1,7Bn, is among the leaders in France in managing funds of funds, and is also one of the most active investors in Venture Capital. The Venture Capital team has invested in 50 high tech companies. AGF Private Equity invests €30 M each year in innovative firms. With close to €300 M under management in its Venture Capital activity, AGF Private Equity is an active partner of growth companies.

About Credit Agricole Private Equity – http://www.ca-privateequity.com

Crédit Agricole Private Equity is an AMF-accredited asset management subsidiary of Crédit Agricole S.A., specialising in private equity investment in non-listed companies across a range of industries. A team of 40 investors operating in several areas (Later-Stage Financing & LBO, Venture Capital, Secondary Market, Mezzanine, Renewable Energies, PPP Infrastructure, liquidity solutions, etc.), manages €1.5 billion through venture and innovation funds.

About GIMV – www.gimv.com

GIMV is a Belgian investment company. It was established in 1980, and since 1997, it has been quoted on Euronext Brussels. Its purpose is to invest in the equity of unlisted companies (private equity). GIMV operates in three areas. GIMV’s venture capital is invested primarily in ICT and Life Sciences. In more traditional industries it also undertakes management buy-outs (MBOs) and it provides growth capital (Corporate Investment). The portfolio maintains a balance among start-up companies, fast growth companies and major enterprises. In this way, GIMV positions itself as a player on the international market.

About Innoven Partenaires – www.innoven-partners.com

Innoven Partenaires is an independent asset management company authorised by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers to manage venture capital FCPI funds (Fonds Commun de Placements dans l’Innovation). Founded in 1997, Innoven Partenaires currently manages 210 M€ via 15 FCPI funds, 7 of which are managed on behalf of La Poste (the French Post Office). Innoven Partenaires invests in France and across Europe in young companies with high growth potential in the life sciences, information technology, communications and energy / cleantech sectors. The investment team has a pro-active approach, working closely with portfolio companies, making available a broad international network, in-depth mergers and acquisitions and business development experience and a strong track record in bringing companies to IPO.

About InterWest Partners – www.interwest.com

InterWest Partners (www.interwest.com), founded in 1979, is a leading diversified venture capital firm focused on building long-term relationships with entrepreneurs and portfolio companies. With more than $2 billion of capital raised, including its new investment fund of $600 million, InterWest has 11 experienced partners in Menlo Park, CA and Dallas, TX, who bring together deep domain knowledge in life sciences and information technology. InterWest Partners has consistently helped grow some of the most influential companies in information technology and life sciences. The firm's investments in life sciences include: ArthroCare (ARTC), Cor Therapeutics (CORR; acquired by Millennium Pharmaceuticals, MLNM), Corgentech (CGTK), Corixa (CRXA), Coulter Pharmaceutical (CLTR; acquired by Corixa Pharmaceuticals, CRXA; acquired by GlaxoSmithKline PLC, GSK), Cubist Pharmaceuticals (CBST), Epicor Medical (acquired by Saint Jude Medical, STJ) Inspire Pharmaceuticals (ISPH), Myogen (MYOG), Spinal Dynamics (acquired by Medtronic, MDT), TheraSense (THER; acquired by Abbott Labs, ABT) and Ventritex (VNTX; acquired by St. Jude Medical, STJ).

About NIF SMBC – www.nifsmbc.co.jp

On October 1, 2005, NIF Ventures (Daiwa Securities Group) and SMBC Capital (Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group) merged to form NIF SMBC Ventures. NIF SMBC Ventures, the newly-created venture capital company, formed by integrating these two precursors, will not only secure a comprehensive business network, but also establish an outstanding service structure that integrates expertise in the entire business processes of finding investment targets, listing their stocks, and ultimately carrying out mergers and acquisitions. NIF SMBC Ventures has taken the first step for further growth as a private equity house and will continue to contribute to society by creating new industries through the finding and development of promising unlisted companies.

About SGAM – www.sgam.com

Société Générale Asset Management is one of the world’s leading asset managers with € 371.2bn of assets under management as at 31 March 2007. A subsidiary of the Société Générale Group, SGAM is a global player with a balanced and robust business model based on:

- its multi-centre structure: 2,830 employees, including 670 managers and analysts, are located at the heart of the markets in Europe, the United States and Asia;

- a business that covers all asset classes: equities, fixed income, balanced, and alternative investment where SGAM is among the leaders with € 67 bn in assets under management;

- access to all types of investor: institutions, distributors, corporates and individuals, all of whom benefit from SGAM’s leading edge expertise and a local service. Thanks to cross-selling and a focus on quality and constant innovation, SGAM has developed value-added management solutions tailored to clients’ specific needs and which optimize performance and control risk. SGAM is rated M2 by Fitch Ratings, thus retaining since 2000 the top rating awarded to an asset management company for the whole of its international structure

About Sofinnova Partners – www.sofinnova.fr

Founded in Paris in 1972, Sofinnova Partners is one of Europe's leading independent venture capital firms. With €900 million under management, Sofinnova Partners invests in start-ups and early-stage companies in information technology and life sciences. Its investment strategy consists of investing early in teams and projects with high potential, most often acting as lead or co-lead investor. Sofinnova Partners also benefits from a long-established relationship with its sister company in San Francisco, Sofinnova Ventures. Sofinnova Partners’ teams consist of 10 professionals who bring valuable market insight and technical expertise to portfolio companies.

About Sopartec – www.sopartec.com - www.vivesfund.com

SOPARTEC is the investment and technology transfer company of the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL). SOPARTEC has been entrusted with the management of the intellectual property of the university and its commercialization through licenses, partnerships and the creation of new companies. In particular, SOPARTEC has invested and participated in the creation of more than 20 spin-off companies based in whole or in part on research results from UCL, such as Ion Beam Application (IBA). SOPARTEC is also the managing company of VIVES, a € 15 mio seed capital fund financed by EIF, KBC, Fortis, Sofina, Nivelinvest and SOPARTEC. The goal of VIVES is to stimulate the creation and growth of university spin-offs and invest in existing young technology companies with which a strategic partnership can be concluded.

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