Taylor Wessing advises on Europe's largest venture capital fund raising this year

27-Jun-2005  |  Corporate, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Technology

Taylor Wessing has acted for MPM Capital, a global investment firm focused solely on investing in life sciences in its role as lead investor in a $59.8m private venture capital financing for Oxagen Limited, a drug discovery and development company.  This transaction amounted to the largest fund raising in Europe this year.

Oxagen will use the funding to advance its lead project, a novel small molecule anti-inflammatory for asthma to the clinic and to expand its clinical and pre-clinical stage portfolio.

Corporate partner, Simon Walker, commented:

"Taylor Wessing is delighted to have completed its first instruction for MPM Capital on such a significant investment."

The Taylor Wessing team advising MPM Capital was led by Simon Walker, assisted by Michelle Rodrigues (corporate), Malcolm Bates (intellectual property), Alastair Friend (employee benefits), Charlie Pring (employment), Elizabeth Small (tax) and Graham Williams (real estate).

Palmer & Dodge, MPM Capital's general counsel, advised on the US aspects of this transaction.  Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr advised Oxagen Limited.

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