Santaris Acquisition By Roche May Help VCs Back New Biotechs In Europe

05 Aug 2014

• By John Davis

Roche paying $450 million for Danish biotech Santaris is likely to fuel excitement around RNA-targeting technologies and may generate a liquidity boost for Europe’s VC sector.

Roche’s acquisition of Denmark’s venture capital-backed Roche Innovation Center Copenhagen AS suggests rehabilitation of RNA-targeting technology in the biotech community is a fact. The transaction also may help European venture capitalists (VCs) attract extra funds to invest in biotech.

Roche announced it was buying Santaris for an upfront of $250 million and $200 million in contingent payments on Aug....