Newron Pharmaceuticals
- New investment
- Location: Italy
- Sector: Healthcare
- www.newron.com
First investment
3i first invested in March 1999, investing €17.9m in total as part of several early-stage fund raising rounds which raised €62.2m to support the research and development activity.
Nature of business
Biopharmaceutical company focused on novel therapies for diseases of the Central Nervous System and pain (ie Parkinson, Alzheimer, Epilepsy).
| Results to 31 December | 2006 (audited) €m |
|---|---|
| Sales | 1.2 |
| Profits after tax | (16.4) |
| Net assets | 1.0 |
Current trading
The key financial metrics for biotechnology companies at this stage of development relate to their cash position and rate of spending. A net loss of €16.4m for the year to 31 December 2006 was largely due to higher research and development spending.
Developments since 3i invested
Newron achieved an IPO on the SWX Swiss Exchange which raised €74m in December 2006, thus giving it a strong cash position, and signed a global development and commercialisation agreement with Merck Serono worth up to $200m plus royalties.
Employment in the company grew from eight when 3i first invested in March 1999 to 38 in December 2006.
| 3i Group plc’s investment as at 31 March |
2007 £m |
2006 £m |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Equity and loan | 12 | 12 |
| Directors’ valuation | ||
| Equity and loan | 23 | 13 |
| Equity interest | 15% | 24% |
| Income in the year | 0 | 0 |