F2G completes $30M financing led by Novartis

Manchester – September 6, 2012. F2G Ltd., a UK-based biotech company developing novel therapies for life-threatening systemic fungal infections, announced today that it has completed a $30 million (GBP 18.7M) financing round led by Novartis and Advent Venture Partners. The funds will be used to select a clinical candidate from the F3 series of advanced preclinical analogs and proceed to first in man studies. The F3 series represents a proprietary group of compounds with highly potent and selective activity against Aspergillus species and other moulds, which act via a totally novel mechanism. Aspergillus infections are a serious threat in immune-compromised patient populations and result in a high rate of mortality even with the most effective treatment currently available. Dr Richard White, chairman of F2G, commented, “We are delighted to welcome two top tier investors into F2G. We now have a first-class international syndicate, including the venture arms of two major pharmaceutical companies”.

Shane Kelly, previously the CEO, is leaving the company to pursue another opportunity. Dr White will assume the expanded role of Executive Chairman and noted “We would all like to thank Shane for his tireless and steadfast management of the company over the last 10 years and for bringing us to this successful juncture. We wish him well in his new venture”.

Dr Raj Parekh of Advent and Dr Anja König of Novartis Venture Funds will both be joining the board of F2G. Raj Parekh, General Partner at Advent said, “The F2G molecules show a compelling and novel profile and have the genuine potential to be first- and best- in-class agents for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis, which remains a serious unmet medical need. We look forward to working with Richard and the team to bring these molecules to a nearly clinical evaluation."