Catapult Ventures records 3.3x return from exit of Panthera Biopartners

28 April 2022 - Manchester, UK.  The GM&C Life Sciences Fund, managed by Catapult Ventures, has announced a 3.3x cash return (115.6% IRR), from its exit of Panthera Biopartners Ltd.

The exit comes as part of a £10m further funding package for Panthera from Business Growth Fund and Gresham House Ventures, the latter investing on behalf of the Baronsmead VCTs. The new funds will allow Panthera to further grow its network of dedicated clinical trial sites across the UK and Western Europe. 

Since launching in late 2019, with an initial investment from Catapult’s GM&C Life Sciences Fund and Gresham House Ventures in late 2020, Panthera has grown to become a major player in the UK with nine sites, including Rochdale, and an impressive order book.

Co-founder and Chairman John Lyon commented “the support given by Catapult was much valued and helped take Panthera through its initial growth phase, both with its UK domestic expansion and the number of patients treated, through a growing number of clinical trials”.

Panthera recruits patients and runs clinical trials on behalf of Contract Research Organisations and pharma, and has quickly established a specialism in oncology, NASH, neurology and vaccines.

The company was founded by Dr Ian Smith (Medical Director), who also founded Synexus the largest SMO in the world and has been chairman of two Catapult portfolio companies to date, and Professor John Lyon (Chairman and Chief Financial Officer), a serial entrepreneur and previously a global Vice President of Covance.