Rare Form: GSK, NEA Back Orphan Disease Venture Fund

 
• By Stacy Lawrence

A new fund offering access to European translational research focused on rare diseases has high-profile backers and reunites key players in the successful Prosensa IPO.

A trio involved in one of the best performing 2013 IPOs is hoping to repeat that success with a new fund. Orphan disease play Prosensa Holding BV saw its share price more than double in the first few weeks following its late June debut. [See Deal] (SeeAlso see "Prosensa Debuts On The Nasdaq Hours After Getting Breakthrough Designation For Lead Compound" - Pink Sheet, 28 June, 2013..) Now, two Prosensa investors, Kurma Life Sciences Partners and New Enterprise Associates, and Prosensa's development partner, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, [See Deal] are behind a new venture fund specifically aimed at rare disease companies.

The fund is called Kurma Biofund II. KLS Partners is raising it; NEA and GSK are LPs that will be...

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