Lund, Sweden – May 3, 2022 – Fåhraeus Startup & Growth AB (FSG) and Linc are jointly investing SEK 18 million in the pharmaceutical company Melius Pharma AB, funding its operations and a clinical phase IIa study of the drug candidate ME-015 for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). If the initial part of the project has a positive outcome, the parties intend to invest a further SEK 22 million to complete the study.
The investment is made at a pre-money valuation of SEK 28 million. Provided that both financings are carried out, Fåhraeus Startup & Growth’s total investment amounts to SEK 18 million. In connection with the new share issue, Christer Fåhraeus joins the company’s board.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare disease in which scar tissue forms in the lungs, with an accompanying loss of lung volume. The most common symptoms are chronic cough and breathing difficulties, which greatly reduce quality of life.
About Melius Pharma
Melius Pharma AB is a pharmaceutical company focused on developing new treatments for interstitial lung diseases. This spring, Melius Pharma’s main project, for chronic cough in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, begins a phase 2 study. Chronic cough is a serious symptom that greatly reduces quality of life for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. There is currently no treatment for chronic cough in these patients, whose median survival after diagnosis is 3–5 years. www.meliuspharma.com
About Fåhraeus Startup & Growth (FSG)
Fåhraeus Startup & Growth (FSG) is a venture capital fund founded in 2021 by Christer Fåhraeus and Emanuel Stihl and managed together with Linus Wiebe. FSG invests in life science and tech companies with groundbreaking, innovative solutions. The starting point is that every investment begins with the people behind the company: realising a company’s true potential requires a dedicated and sharp management team. FSG works with the founders, management and board to realise the potential in the company, and is an active owner with a broad industrial network to support its portfolio companies.
