Claris Ventures Sgr, founded by Pietro Puglisi and Ciro Spedaliere, , is a venture capital fund specialized in early stage investments in biotech startups approaching clinical testing. Claris Ventures will now be able to invest € 85 mln in these companies, coming from the closing of subscriptions of its funds Claris Biotech I and Claris Biotech I - Parallel Fund.
The two investments currently in portfolio of Claris Ventures as lead investor, in the immuno-oncology and metabolic fields, consist of a total of €24 million raised with the involvement of other investors and pharmaceutical companies. Thanks to the new investments, the SGR will be able to further strengthen its role as a link between the worlds of research, investment and pharmaceutical industry.
This closing was also participated by EIF European Investment Fund, which subscribed € 40 million, and CDP Venture Capital with its co-investment fund of the Ministry of Economic Development with € 10 million, in addition to its previous closings subscribed on behalf of Compagnia di San Paolo, Ersel, FOF VenturItaly, Inarcassa, and several individuals and family offices.
Claris Ventures will lead investment rounds of 5-15 mln €, with the support for the analysis activities of the investment team of the Molecular Biotechnology Center of the University of Turin and the research and molecular diagnostics center Ceinge-advanced biotechnology of Naples.
Pietro Puglisi and Ciro Spedaliere, co-founder of Claris Venturs SGR, commented: "The trust placed in Claris Ventures by important national and international institutions gives us the opportunity to strongly contribute to the development of Italian biotech, creating a positive impact for the health of patients and generating economic and social value at the same time".
"Our participation in the closing of Claris Biotech I highlights a vocation that our Foundation has developed in recent years," said Francesco Profumo, president of Compagnia di San Paolo. "One of our strategic priorities is to become an ecosystem developer, supporting entrepreneurship made in Turin and, at the same time, giving oxygen to sectors that have a strategic value for the country".