In the United States alone 25 million people suffer from rare disease, a number that jumps to 400 million people globally. While 1 in 10 people will suffer from a rare disease at some point in your life, half of all rare diseases don’t have a foundation or research support group.
The problem is that, as the name suggests, these diseases don't affect enough people to make a financial difference, so they're overlooked, but the effect is cumulative, and financially devastating for those who have them, as well as on the system: the cost per patient per year for those with a rare disease ranged from $8,812 to $140,044 for rare diseases patients compared to $5,862 for those without a rare disease.
Thanks to advances in technology, though, it is becoming more viable for companies to focus on these rare diseases. That is most especially true for biotech companies which can use genomics and AI to help develop treatments for these patient.
Venture investors are also looking at this space, investing $8.8 billion in 106 rare disease focused drug developers in 2021, and $5.2 billion across 71 investments in 2022.
Here are some of the VCs who have invested in rare diseases and their investments:
Description: "Chiesi Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on the area of rare and orphan disorders. Our goal is to complement the strategic interest of the Chiesi Group by investing in early stage development opportunities. Chiesi Ventures also aim to accelerate the expansion of the Chiesi network in EU and the US among universities, venture capital investors, rare disease patient organizations and entrepreneurial companies developing treatments for rare diseases"
Founded: 2014
Fund size: Unknown
Investments: Curasen, Aura Biosciences, Glycomine, Reneo
Description: "Working with entrepreneurs to turn breakthrough science into breakthrough medicine"
Founded: 1973
Fund size: $2 billion under management
Investments: Zogenix, Dicerna Pharmaceuticals
Description: "The Frazier Life Sciences team invests in and builds companies developing and commercializing novel therapeutics"
Founded: 1991
Fund size: $4.8 billion under management
Investments: Amicus Therapeutics, Passage Bio
OrbiMed
Description: "From biopharmaceuticals to medical devices, digital health, diagnostics, and healthcare services, OrbiMed is scouting the globe for innovations that will help ensure humanity lives healthier, longer, and more productive lives"
Founded: 1989
Fund size: $17 billion under management
Investments: Passage Bio, Disc Medicine, Invitae
Access Biotechnology
Description: "Access Biotechnology invests in transformative therapies for conditions with high unmet needs and that have the potential to meaningfully impact human health"
Founded: 1986
Fund size: Unknown
Investments: Passage Bio, Disc Medicine
Bain Capital Life Sciences
Description: "Bain Capital Life Sciences invests in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, diagnostic, and life science tool companies across the globe, with a focus on companies that both drive medical innovation across the value chain and enable that innovation to improve the lives of patients with unmet medical needs"
Founded: 2016
Fund size: $180 billion under management
Investments: Disc Medicine, Dicerna Pharmaceuticals
Logos Capital
Description: "Logos, the Greek word for logic and discourse, emphasizes our philosophy of seeking empirical truth and rigorous scientific diligence across our investment endeavors"
Founded: 2019
Fund size: $200 million
Investments: Passage Bio, Dyne Therapeutics
Atlas Venture
Description: "We build breakthrough biotech companies with remarkable life science entrepreneurs"
Founded: 1980
Fund size: $2.2 billion under management
Investments: Disc Medicine, Dyne Therapeutics
Surveyor Capital
Description: "Surveyor Capital is a longstanding fundamental equities business at Citadel, established in 2008. Our sector-aligned investment teams conduct deep fundamental research, developing an independent view on the companies they cover. They are specialists in their industries and experts in their coverage, building trusted relationships with many corporate management teams"
Founded: 2008
Fund size: Unknown
Investments: Dyne Therapeutics, Rezolute
New Leaf Venture Partners
Description: "New Leaf Venture Partners believes in leveraging innovation to advance healthcare technology. We invest in great people who are building tomorrow’s leading-edge businesses"
Founded: 2005
Fund size: $605.5 million undermanagement
Investments: Passage Bio, Rallybio, BrightInsight
5AM Ventures
Description: "5AM Ventures is a leading venture capital firm focused on building next-generation life science companies capable of delivering outstanding returns to our investors"
Founded: 2002
Fund size: $450 million and $300 million
Investments: Disc Medicine, Rallybio
Canaan Partners
Description: "Canaan is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in visionaries with transformative ideas"
Founded: 1987
Fund size: $6.8 billion
Investments: Amicus Therapeutics, Rallybio
Novo Holdings
Description: "Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and the wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, one of the world’s largest philanthropic enterprise foundations"
Founded: 1999
Fund size: EUR 108 billion under management
Investments: Disc Medicine, MedGenome
(Image source: news-medical.net)
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