Merck Serono has started a venture group capitalized with EUR 40M, or about $54M, to invest in early stage companies.

The group plans to have a focus on neurodegenerative diseases, oncology, autoimmune diseases and inflammatory diseases, all of which will have the potential to provide pipeline products for Merck Serono’s core therapeutic areas.

While the venture group does not have an official website, it is already accepting proposals from new companies. Submissions can be made to

msvc@merckserono.net.

Merck Serono’s Bernhard Kirschbaum and Vincent Aurentz had this to say about the new fund:

“Biotech start-up companies are an important element in scientific innovation. Merck Serono’s venture capital fund will provide the opportunity to support scientific excellence in our core fields of interest and provide start-up companies with the opportunity to interact early on with our organization. The creation of a venture capital fund underlines our commitment to be Best Partner for biotech entrepreneurs and their investors. This activity complements our toolkit of collaborative approaches to build a high-quality portfolio with our partners.”

CEOs and scientists get your pitches and pipettes ready, respectively, or both.

Image from blogfarmacias

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