Biotech investor plans IPO in London

Arix Bioscience plc, partner of BioMotiv in the US and the Max Planck Lead Discovery Center in Germany, intends to be listed at the end of February on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. The investment company will offer just over 48 million shares at an offer price of 207 pence, expecting proceeds of up to £100m. The money will be used to further its business strategy: acquiring interests in new businesses, providing funding to support the expansion of business both existing and new, and to its subsidiaries to expand its fund management business and make potential investments in life science funds globally.

Arix, which is led by an experienced senior leadership team consisting of CEO Joe Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman Jonathan Peacock, Chairman and Professor Sir Christopher Evans, Deputy Chairman, holds interest in five life sciences companies: CAR-T company Autolus, genome sequencing play Depixus, Respiratory-focused clinical stage company Verona Pharma, DNA Damage Response (DDR) company Artios Pharma and small molecule developer OptiKira. 

“The life science industry is going through an incredibly productive phase, following decades of investment in fundamental science,” commented Anderson. “We are already seeing the emergence of breakthrough therapies deriving from better understanding of why and how diseases develop. Arix has privileged access to some of the world’s most innovative businesses via links with academia, research accelerators, our own fund management organisation and extensive industry- networks. We believe we can build businesses which improve outcomes for patients and unlock value for investors. We have a fantastic team with proven capabilities in identifying, building and operating successful life science businesses, supported by an exceptional Board. This IPO aims to continue the momentum we have seen in building a balanced group of high quality life science businesses.”