With healthcare and life sciences one of our core objectives at NorthEdge, one of our Directors, Liam May, recently shared his thoughts on the importance of translating scientific opportunities for investors, particularly in life sciences, in ICAEW’s Corporate Financier magazine.
The article illustrated our investment in Antibody Analytics, a contract research organisation focusing on antibody-targeted therapeutics and complex biologics and immunotherapies in oncology, as an example. Antibody Analytics is on the cutting edge of ‘large-molecule’ drug development, which itself is on the cutting edge of drug discovery, and as a result, requires a high level of expertise.
Liam highlighted how translating the science of Antibody Analytics into a value creation plan and an investable strategy was the challenge. To meet this challenge, NorthEdge collaborated with sector specialists and people who were experts in life sciences. Additionally, we used our life sciences and healthcare networks, which hold trusted non-execs who previously held roles in the industry, for further support.
The deal consisted of building relationships, conducting due diligence, and structuring a development capital investment to facilitate growth and innovation. This is to fund the establishment of a state-of-the-art, world-class laboratory, as well as enabling the business to increase headcount to over 250 people.
Liam further detailed how NorthEdge sought a non-executive chair who could understand and help translate the Antibody Analytics team’s language around the science to a private equity audience. The end result saw us appoint Paul McClusky, founder and CEO of Concept Life Sciences, who brings with him a huge amount of experience and expertise.
As Liam said, ‘backing life sciences means being able to translate the scientific opportunity to investors’ and this is key to NorthEdge’s efforts in the sector. We have extensive experience within this industry, supporting businesses to expand their services, drive growth and deliver impactful change.
We are proud of the role we can play, backing ambitious management teams and working with them to build better businesses, together.
The full article is available here.