Dr Chris Nave

Brandon Capital's $60m taypayer-funded biotech bets

Brandon Capital has put roughly $60 million of National Reconstruction Fund money into ten biotech companies and warns R&D tax changes would hurt deep tech; portfolio company Myricx Bio went to Novartis.

Also australiatimes.com

CUREator+ delivers $15.7m to seven Australian BioMedTech startups tackling dementia

Government-backed CUREator+ program awards non-dilutive funding to seven Australian companies developing dementia and cognitive decline therapeutics, devices and digital health tools.

Peter Beattie AC appointed Brandon BioCatalyst Chair

Brandon BioCatalyst has named Peter Beattie its chair as Bill Ferris retires, with Andrew Nash joining the board and Ross King becoming deputy; manager Brandon Capital's newly raised $439 million fund was noted.

Brandon Capital closes $439m fund with $150m leg up from the NRFC

Australia's NRFC has injected $150m into Brandon Capital's sixth life-science vehicle, lifting it to a $439m close; past NRFC cheques to local deep-tech firms are also recapped.

Australian Life Sciences Venture Capital firm Brandon Capital announces Fund Six final close totalling over A$430 m

Brandon Capital has completed a A$439 million final close for its sixth life sciences fund, bringing the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation and WA Government in alongside backers such as HESTA, Hostplus, CSL and QIC.

PolyActiva Secures $40M in Series C Financing to Advance Innovation in Sustained Ocular Drug Delivery

Australian biotech PolyActiva has raised A$40 million in Series C funding to advance its PA5108 ocular implant and PREZIA platform, backed by the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation and Brandon Capital.

Also Brandon Capital portfolio·Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·polyactiva.com·Startup Daily·ophthalmologybreakingnews.com·Forbes Australia

CUREator+ Opens Second Funding Round Offering Up to $5M for Dementia BioMedTech Startups

CUREator+, backed by Brandon BioCatalyst, ANDHealth and Dementia Australia, launches second round offering non-dilutive funding to startups targeting dementia and cognitive decline.

Certa Therapeutics Expands GPR68 Platform through Acquisition of OccuRx

Melbourne biotech Certa Therapeutics has acquired OccuRx, combining two GPR68 fibrosis pipelines founded by Professor Darren Kelly, and says it will seek Series B funding to advance clinical development.

Also Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio

Brandon BioCatalyst’s CUREator Incubator Boosts Preclinical and Health Security Biotech Innovations with $1.865m in funding.

Brandon BioCatalyst's CUREator incubator has granted an extra $1.865m across four Australian biotechs working on antibiotic prescribing, schizophrenia, muscular dystrophy and autoimmune therapies, on top of their initial awards.

CUREator+ opens first funding round for dementia innovations with up to $5 million per project

The CUREator+ incubator, backed by government funds and industry partners, launches its initial grant round offering non-dilutive capital to startups developing dementia and cognitive decline solutions.

Cicada Innovations to launch new health-focused hub in Westmead Health Precinct alongside Brandon BioCatalyst

Cicada Innovations is opening a health-tech incubator at Sydney's Westmead precinct with NSW government grant backing, working with Brandon Capital and Brandon BioCatalyst to help researchers commercialise medical discoveries.

Cicada Innovations to launch new health-focused hub in Westmead Health Precinct alongside Brandon BioCatalyst

Deep tech incubator Cicada Innovations is opening a health-focused facility at Sydney's Westmead precinct with Investment NSW backing, working with Brandon Capital and Brandon BioCatalyst to help early medical startups commercialise.

Biotech incubator CUREator tips $12 million into 19 startups tackling global health

Biotech incubator CUREator's second round distributes $12 million among 19 health-focused startups, supported by government funding, while a new MedTech program backed by $50 million arrives later in the year.

Nineteen groundbreaking biotech projects selected for national incubator

CUREator, the national biotech incubator operated by Brandon BioCatalyst, selects 19 projects for its second funding round worth $12 million, and a $50 million MRFF award will add a MedTech stream.

QUE Oncology's non-hormonal therapy reduces hot flushes and night sweats in women with breast cancer, published in The Lancet

QUE Oncology reports its non-hormonal drug Q-122 eased hot flushes in breast cancer patients on endocrine therapy, with Phase II results in The Lancet; the Emory–UniQuest venture is backed by Brandon BioCatalyst and Uniseed.

QUE Oncology's non-hormonal therapy reduces hot flushes and night sweats in women with breast cancer, published in The Lancet

Brandon Capital's blog covers QUE Oncology's Phase II Q-122 results in The Lancet, showing reduced hot flushes and night sweats in breast cancer patients on endocrine therapy.

Australia’s first national biotech incubator announces round one funding to support life science breakthroughs

Brandon BioCatalyst's CUREator incubator names its first-round awardees, distributing government-backed funding across 23 Australian life science companies working on treatments from schizophrenia to diabetes, with round two applications now open.

Australia's first national biotech incubator announces round one funding to support life science breakthroughs

The CUREator incubator, run by Brandon BioCatalist's partner organisation, names its first-round awardees, distributing government-backed grant funding across 23 Australian life science companies developing treatments for diseases including diabetes, cancer and COPD.

Silicon Valley pacemaker hopes to capture Aussie hearts with ASX float

US-based leadless pacemaker maker EBR Systems has listed on the ASX, spurning US SPAC offers thanks to its local investor base; Blackbird's earlier investment in Vexev is also noted.

Also Brandon Capital portfolio·Brandon Capital portfolio·Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio

Life science researchers and entrepreneurs encouraged to seek investment from new $40m Australian biotech incubator

The MRCF, managed by publisher Brandon Capital, has launched a government-funded national biotech incubator with committed funding, and appointed a new Head of Operations, with applications now open for its first intake.

Gov’t backs medical innovation, research with $79m

The federal government has announced $79 million in grants for ANDHealth, MRCF and MTPConnect to commercialise medical research, plus two industry fellowships for researchers, under its Medical Research Future Fund.

Researchers cannot be expected to commercialise their innovations alone says leading IP lawyer and new MRCF Board member

IP lawyer Kylie Diwell joins the board of the Brandon Capital-managed MRCF. She argues research commercialisation needs skilled teams, while MRCF leaders welcome government innovation support and urge patent box tax reform for biotech.

Azura Ophthalmics raises AUD$28m for registration studies for treatment of leading cause of dry eye disease

Eye-disease drug developer Azura Ophthalmics announced a $28 million round from existing backers including MRCF, OrbiMed, TPG Biotech and Ganot Capital, funding registration studies of its dry eye treatment candidate.

Also Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio·Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio·Brandon Capital portfolio·Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio·Brandon Capital portfolio

MRCF establishes life science incubator to boost NZ startup successes

Brandon Capital, manager of the MRCF, has been appointed by Callaghan Innovation to run a life science incubator for New Zealand startups from April 2020, offering loans matched with investment.

$14m invested in University of Melbourne spin-out to create vaccine for periodontal gum disease

A biotech spin-out from the University of Melbourne has raised a Series A to develop a gum disease vaccine, backed by a biomedical translation fund, a large biotech company and the university itself.

Also Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio·Startup Daily·denteric.com·denteric.com·@AuManufacturing·Startup Daily

PolyActiva completes recruitment in key Phase I glaucoma implant safety study.

PolyActiva finished enrolling patients in its Phase I glaucoma implant trial and closed a AU$10 million raise from existing backers including the MRCF and Yuuwa Capital to fund further clinical studies.

Also Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio

Brandon Capital scores $210m for fifth medical research fund

Brandon Capital's blog reports a first close of $210 million toward its $250 million MRCF 5 biotech fund, with super funds and CSL backing, and recalls past portfolio sales of Spinifex and Fibrotech.

Also Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio

Brandon Capital Partners launches new Medical Research Commercialisation Fund, seeks NZ institutional

Brandon Capital's Medical Research Commercialisation Fund has launched its fifth vehicle, MRCF5, completing a NZ$224 million first close and targeting NZ$267 million, while recalling earlier portfolio exits of Elastagen, Spinifex and Fibrotech.

Also Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio·Brandon Capital portfolio·Startup Daily

Australian pain drug innovation company Spinifex Pharmaceuticals sold to Novartis for US$200m plus milestone payments

GBS Ventures reports Novartis has agreed to acquire chronic-pain drug developer Spinifex Pharmaceuticals for US$200 million upfront plus milestones, recalling the company's 2005, 2008 and 2014 venture rounds and its Australian investors.

Also GBS Ventures·Brandon Capital portfolio·Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio·Brandon Capital portfolio·Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio·novartis.com·clinicalleader.com·Brandon Capital portfolio·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·anthillonline.com·@AuManufacturing·materresearch.org.au·Business News Australia

Investment in Verva by the Medical Research Commercialisation Find (MRCF)