Pharmaceuticals
Temasek wins approval to buy Intas stake from ChrysCapital
Temasek Holdings has received approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to acquire a stake in Intas Pharmaceuticals from ChrysCapital Partners.
PE-owned Luye Pharma seeks up to $764m in HK IPO
Luye Pharma Group - a Chinese drugmaker backed by GIC Private, CDH Investments, CITIC Private Equity and New Horizon Capital - is seeking to raise up to 764 million from a Hong Kong IPO.
Japan's Meiji acquires India drug maker, Temasek exits
Japanese conglomerate Meiji Holdings has acquired Medreich, an Indian pharmaceutical company backed by Singapore sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings, for $290 million via its subsidiary Meiji Seika Pharma.
Bain-backed Emcure Pharma withdraws IPO
Emcure Pharmaceuticals, the Indian drugs developer backed by Bain Capital, has withdrawn its plans to go public. The listing - which was to raise INR5 billion ($84 million) - is the fourth PE-backed IPO to be pulled in India this year.
Japan's INCJ joins $8.2m deal for TB vaccine developer
The Innovation Network Corporation of Japan has made a joint investment with Osaka-based Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma and Japan BCG Laboratory in Create Vaccine Company, which is developing a new tuberculosis (TB) vaccine.
ChrysCapital invests $20m in India's Torrent Pharma - report
ChrysCapital is said to have acquired a stake in Ahmedabad-based drug company Torrent Pharmaceuticals for around INR1.2 billion ($19 million).
Jafco-backed Eleven Bio raises $50m in NASDAQ IPO
Eleven Biotherapeutics, a US biopharma company firm backed by Japan’s Jafco Ventures, has raised $50 million through its NASDAQ IPO – short of the $69 million initially sought.
Indonesia eases foreign investment restrictions
Foreign investors will be able to take larger stakes in Indonesia’s power, advertising and pharmaceuticals sectors as part of efforts to boost the country’s slowing economy. The changes require formal presidential endorsement before they can come...
Japan's Astellas Pharma leads US-based Mitokyne $45m Series A round
Astellas Pharma, a Tokyo-listed pharmaceutical firm, has led a $45 million Series A round of investment in US biotech start-up Mitokyne, alongside MPM Capital and Longwood Founders Fund.
SMRJ, Daiichi Sankyo, Mitsubishi UFJ launch $10m pharma fund
The Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation Japan (SMRJ), pharmaceutical firm Daiichi Sankyo and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital are together launching a new JPY1 billion ($10 million) fund to invest in pharmaceutical start-ups working...
Morgan Stanley PE Asia makes partial exit from Sihuan Pharma
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) will make a partial exit from Hong Kong-listed Sihuan Pharmaceutical Holdings, joining company management in selling a 6.8% stake via a block trade agreement.
Mandarin Capital exits IMA Group, has first close on Fund II
Mandarin Capital, a Chinese-Italian private equity fund, has sold its 7.57% stake in Bologna-based pharmaceutical machinery business IMA Group for EUR53 million ($69.7 million) and has made first close of its second fund on EUR110.5 million.
Indian pharma firm Cipla launches VC unit
Cipla, an India-based generic drug maker, has set up a VC arm – Cipla Ventures – to invest in biotechnology, medical devices and new chemical entities.
Phillip PE sees 7x return on biotech start-up
Inviragen had inauspicious beginnings. The firm came about through a marriage of convenience between two biotech start-ups that couldn't get funding: US-based Inviragen was working on dengue fever vaccine but had no capital for clinical trials; over in...
Japan's Takeda buys Singapore biopharma start-up
PE-backed Singapore biopharmaceutical start-up Inviragen is to be acquired by Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical for $250 million.
Mercury takes 30% stake in Australia's Novotech
Mercury Capital has taken a 30% stake in Novotech, Australia's largest independent clinical trials provider, with a view to aiding its Asia-Pacific expansion. The amount invested was not disclosed.
NEA names managing director for Asia
VC firm New Enterprise Associates (NEA) has appointed Carmen Chang as Asia partner and managing director. She is charged with enhancing the firm’s deal flow and brand in China and other Asian markets.
Carlyle sees return on capsule innovation
Gelatin has been used to produce two-piece drug capsules for nearly 100 years, largely thanks to its ability to dissolve easily and be manufactured to a uniform thickness. The problem is that the manufacturing technique has never been all that kosher,...
Carlyle exits Japan’s Qualicaps to Mitsubishi Chemical
The Carlyle Group has exited its holding in Qualicaps, a supplier of pharma-grade capsules, to Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings for JPY55.8billion ($639 million).
Investors give prognosis for healthcare investment in Asia - AVCJ Forum
Despite regulatory hurdles and a waning IPO market, the healthcare care sector is an increasingly attractive area of investment for venture capitalists.
GE Capital to invest in Biocon’s research services subsidiary
GE capital, the private equity arm of General Electric, has agreed to invest INR1.25 billion ($23 million) for a 7.69% stake in Syngene, a subsidiary of India’s Biocon.
Japan's government to set up $500m VC drug fund
The Japanese government plans to set up a public-private fund to support research into drugs targeting cancer, hepatitis, diabetes and other difficult-to-treat diseases.
Japan’s J-Star sees 3x return on Apo Plus Station
Mid-market Japanese GP J-Star has sold its majority stake in the pharma-focused contract sales company Apo Plus Station (APS) to Qol, a Tokyo-based pharmaceutical firm.
India to launch $360m pharma fund
The Indian government is contemplating launching an INR20 billion ($367 million) venture capital fund to invest in research and development (R&D) in the pharmaceutical sector.