Cologne — NRW.BANK is investing in CEVEC Pharmaceuticals GmbH via NRW.Venture as part of a growth financing round. The Cologne-based company is active in the gene therapy market and is a leading provider of technologies for the production of biopharmaceuticals. The investment is intended to expand capacities for the growing gene therapy market.
“Gene therapies have become an important future market in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology,” says Dr. Aristotelis Nastos, Team Leader Life Sciences / Venture Capital at NRW.BANK and member of the Advisory Board of CEVEC Pharmaceuticals GmbH “The potential for technologies such as those offered by CEVEC is enormous and we are pleased to be part of this financing round and to support the company’s further growth.”
Gene therapies are being developed for diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, among others, leading to a high demand for production capacity. CEVEC offers pharmaceutical companies modern manufacturing solutions here. To address the growing market, the company plans to use the funds from the financing round to expand its capacity.
NRW.BANK has held a stake in CEVEC Pharmaceuticals GmbH since 2009 and has been supporting the company with its network and capital ever since. Through NRW.Venture, it supports start-ups and young companies from North Rhine-Westphalia in the development and marketing of innovative technologies and business models and the rapid expansion of their business.
About NRW.Venture
NRW.Venture is the venture fund of NRW.BANK, the development bank for North Rhine-Westphalia. It supports its owner, the state of NRW, in its structural and economic policy tasks. To this end, NRW.BANK uses a wide range of development instruments: from low-interest development loans to equity financing and consulting services. With NRW.Venture, it supports start-ups in the development and marketing of innovative technologies and business models and the rapid expansion of their business. NRW.BANK invests up to ten million euros in such companies over several financing rounds — together with private-sector investors. www.nrwbank.de/venture