The life science venture capital firm SR One has closed its second fund since it was spun out of GSK plc in 2020, bringing in $600m to back early- and later-stage biotechs in the US and Europe that are developing therapeutics across a range of diseases. CEO and managing partner Simeon George told Scrip that the VC firm offers start-ups both capital that can be difficult to find in the current financial environment and access to seasoned experts in the business of drug development.
SR One started its life as an independent venture capital firm in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, speaking with potential limited partners (LPs) about participating in their first fund over video conference calls rather than in person. Even so, based on the track record of the firm’s team – led by George, who joined in late 2007 – SR One decoupled from GSK and raised $500m for its first fund as a standalone VC firm in November 2020