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Abbott Biotech Ventures, Inc. (ABVI) is a subsidiary of Abbott dedicated to making venture capital investments in emerging biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Unlike traditional venture capital firms, ABVI characterizes an investment’s success by its potential to significantly increase Abbott’s strategic growth, and not solely by its financial return. ABVI Investment Focus ABVI’s area of focus is on emerging biotech and pharmaceutical companies that have the potential to provide long-term strategic growth options for Abbott. Companies with programs ranging from pre-clinical (18 months prior to first-in-human) to early proof-of-concept are of highest interest for potential investment by ABVI. Given the early stage nature of these investments, ABVI will often syndicate with other venture capital investors or participate as a follow-on investor in a syndicated venture. ABVI Investment Criteria ABVI is interested in promising opportunities with large markets, differentiated competitive advantages, strong intellectual property protection, and viable clinical and reimbursement pathways. ABVI invests in areas that are strategic to Abbott such as neuroscience, immunology, cardiology, virology, and oncology, as well as emerging or more opportunistic areas of innovation that have the potential to complement Abbott’s existing portfolio or to expand Abbott’s future business reach. ABVI uses a rigorous, systematic process to identify, screen, and select opportunities. The team uses both internal and external experts to help assess technical and commercial opportunities for potential investments. In addition, ABVI looks for companies with a managerial team that has a strong track record in identifying and developing successful commercial opportunities.

Eniluracil/5-FU/leucovorin has promise to produce therapeutic advantages over iv 5 FU and capecitabine

Eniluracil inactivates dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), thereby preventing the formation of α fluoro-β-alanine (F-BAL), and conferring 100% oral bioavailability and a 5 hr half life on 5 fluorouracil (5 FU).  An open-label Eniluracil, 5-FU and leucovorin vs. capecitabine (4:3 randomization) Phase II trial for metastatic breast cancer is in progress. Study drugs are administered orally for 1st- or 2nd-line treatment for metastatic disease in patients previously treated with an anthracycline and a taxane. Arm 1: eniluracil/5-FU/leucovorin administered once/week for 3 weeks/4 weeks. Arm 2: capecitabine (1000 mg/m2) taken bid for 14 days/21days.  Arm 2 patients with disease progression could crossover to take eniluracil/5-FU/leucovorin in Arm X.  Eniluracil/5-FU/leucovorin has been active and well tolerated in both Arm 1 and Arm X.  The primary endpoint, progression-free survival, will be determined approximately 7.5 months after the trial is enrolled with 140 evaluable patients, expected in 2Q 2013.    

• APEIRON Biologics AG, based in Vienna, Austria, is a biotech company with a focus on biological and immunological approaches to treat cancer and related conditions. The company was founded by Professor Josef Penninger and became operational in 2006. Apeiron currently employs around 25 people and is led by a management team with strong background in drug development, especially in cancer immune therapy.
• Apeiron has a portfolio of innovative projects, five of which are in clinical development. Its lead project APN311 is in an ongoing phase III trial in neuroblastoma, with more than half of the patients already recruited.

APIM Therapeutics AS is a preclinical biotech company developing novel peptide anti-cancer drugs for various oncology indications. 

Targeting a novel, stress-induced therapeutic intevention point, the company’s current preclinical lead, ATX-101, sensitizes cancer cells to the action of >15 different chemotherapeutic drugs across multiple indications. The company has achieved proof-of-concept in selected in vivo and ex vivo cancer models of solid tumors (e.g. bladder, prostate) and blood cancer (myeloma, leukemia) in combination with >5 clinical drugs. 

APIM Therapeutics is venture capital financed. Current investors include Sarsia Seed, Birk Venture, Ro Invest and NIK. The company is seeking to raise additional funding in 2012-2013 in order to drive continuous preclinical development of ATX-101 to IND within a period of 18 months.