Oncodesign Services, a major European CRO in preclinical Drug Discovery, majority-owned by ERES IV SLP, has acquired ZoBio. Nov Santé Actions Non Cotées, managed by Eurazeo, enters the Group’s capital
ERES IV SLP, managed by Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity France and advised by Elyan Partners, the majority shareholder of Oncodesign Services since January 2023, has supported the management team, led by Fabrice Viviani, in the acquisition of ZoBio, a Dutch company specialized in early stage small molecule drug discovery.
This acquisition allows Oncodesign Services to extend upstream its Hit-to-IND capabilities to a fully integrated Gene-to-IND offering in the small molecule preclinical value chain. Combined, the companies generated nearly €44 million in revenue in 2023 and have nearly 280 employees spread across Dijon, Les Ulis in France, Leiden in Netherlands, and with subsidiaries in Canada and the United States.
Oncodesign Services has been globally recognized for its expertise in preclinical evaluation of experimental therapies in oncology and immuno-inflammation, as well as its deep expertise in Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacological Imaging, Molecular Radiotherapy (MRT), Pharmacokinetics, and Humanized Models since 1995.
Through its diversified base of biotech and large pharma clients, Oncodesign Services is a major contributor to preclinical research and a reference player in Europe. The company has succeeded in developing several drug candidates that have reached the clinical development phase together with its clients. Oncodesign Services aims to become a European leader in Drug Discovery by offering integrated drug discovery services, placing operational excellence and transparent client relationships at the heart of its strategy and investing in innovative technologies.
Founded nearly 20 years ago, ZoBio has developed a reputation for scientific excellence and innovation in the field of biophysics-based drug discovery. With its best-in-class platform of protein sciences, biophysical and functional assays, structural biology and a unique well diversified small molecule fragment library, ZoBio has helped its clients bring multiple compounds to the clinic.
With this operation, Nov Santé Action Non Cotées invests in Oncodesign Services, increasing the resources available to finance external growth and benefiting the Company with its expertise as a specialized investor in Life Sciences.
Fabrice Viviani, Oncodesign Services CEO: « We are very excited to welcome ZoBio to the Group, and thus strengthen our offering in small molecule drug discovery preclinical services from Gene-to-IND with leading-edge skills and technologies. Oncodesign Services and ZoBio are highly complementary, and we are extremely pleased that Gregg Siegal, Rob Heetebrij and Jan Schultz have decided to continue the adventure and commitment with us to identify novel preclinical candidates for our customers in major disease areas, and to benefit also from the many commercial and operational synergies to come. »
Gregg Siegal, ZoBio CEO: « We are truly excited about the opportunity to combine our best-in-class Fragment Based Drug Discovery platform with the expertise of Oncodesign Services. We have looked at many ways to strategically expand our capabilities to cover a greater portion of the drug discovery pipeline and Oncodesign Services was by far the best fit. Now we are looking forward to integrating with Fabrice’s team and bringing the best of both companies to our clients. »
Jean-François Félix and Maxence de Vienne, Partners at Elyan: « The acquisition of ZoBio reflects the ambition that we share with the management team of Oncodesign Services to build a European leader in preclinical services. It is strategic for Oncodesign Services, which is acquiring the expertise necessary to develop an integrated offering from therapeutic target to the regulatory preclinical stage. It allows the Group to accelerate its growth and internationalization through ZoBio’s strong presence in North America from its base in the Netherlands, combined with the exceptional European positioning of Oncodesign Services. The entry of Nov Santé Actions Non Cotées into the capital of Oncodesign Services strengthens the Company's ability to pursue its consolidation strategy in a still very fragmented preclinical services market. »
Arnaud Vincent, Managing Director of Nov Santé Actions Non Cotées: « The outsourcing of pharmaceutical research services is a global trend. Maintaining major players in this field in France and Europe is essential to our health sovereignty. With this investment, we support scientific know-how in drug discovery which is the first link of the healthcare value chain. We are very proud to be able to support Oncodesign Services in achieving its ambition to become a reference player in Drug Discovery. »
Elyan Team and advisors
Elyan Partners: Jean-François Félix, Maxence de Vienne, Guillaume Vacherand, Davide Giacometti
Altios: Alexandre Kaplan, Elia Laurent, Nicolas Vacher
McDermott Will & Emery: Henri Pieyre de Mandiargues, Côme de Saint-Vincent, Lucie Martin, Natacha Vasak
DeBreij: Gaston Freijser, Robert Vodegel, Maxime Jongh
VanLoman: Marc Oostenbroek, Lotte van Rij, Maiken Rooker, Daniël Pieters
FTI Bold: Saskia Hinkenkemper, Arnoud Hattink, Anne van der Giessen, Arthur Oomen
ERM: Maryelle Ouvrard, Aurélien Beckmann, Siena Schickler
About Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity
Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity has EUR 4.0 billion assets under management through two AIFMs. With an entrepreneurial approach to finance and supported by strong convictions, Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity builds and develops differentiated investment strategies that provide a sustainable response to environmental and social issues. Founded in 1953, the Group had more than CHF 160 billion in assets under management at the end of December 2022, 2,500 employees, and 30 locations worldwide.
About Elyan Partners
A member of the Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity Partnership, Elyan Partners SAS ("Elyan") is a financial investment advisor. Elyan is the exclusive advisor to Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity (France) for the ERES funds within the Edmond de Rothschild Group. Edmond de Rothschild Equity Strategies IV SLP, a professional fund managed by Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity (France), advised by Elyan Partners, invests in medium-sized companies in Europe and North America, mainly in four verticals: healthcare services, digitalization of B2B services, financial services and new consumers.
About ERES IV SLP
ERES IV SLP is a professional fund managed by Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity (France), authorized by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (« AMF »), and advised by Elyan Partners. ERES IV SLP is a fund registered under French law with the AMF, closed to marketing and reserved for professional investors within the meaning of the MIF Directive.
About Eurazeo
Eurazeo is a leading European investment group with EUR 33.5 billion in diversified assets under management, including EUR 23 billion on behalf of institutional and private clients through its private equity, private debt, real estate and infras tructure strategies. The Group supports over 600 mid-market companies, leveraging the commitment of its 400 employees, its sector expertise, its privileged access to global markets via 12 offices in Europe, Asia and the United States, and its responsible approach to value creation based on growth. Its institutional and family shareholding structure, as well as its solid financial structure, ensure its long term viability. Eurazeo has offices in Paris, New York, London, Frankfurt, Berlin, Milan, Madrid, Luxembourg, Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore and Sao Paulo. Eurazeo is listed on Euronext Paris. ISIN: FR0-00121121 - Bloomberg: RF FP - Reuters: EURA.PA.
About Edmond de Rothschild Group
As a conviction-driven investment house founded upon the belief that wealth should be used to build the world of tomorrow, Edmond de Rothschild specialises in Private Banking and Asset Management and serves an international clientele of families, entrepreneurs and institutional investors. The group is also active in Corporate Finance, Private Equity, Real Estate and Fund Services. With a resolutely family-run nature, Edmond de Rothschild has the independence necessary to propose bold strategies and long-term investments, rooted in the real economy. Founded in 1953, the Group had more than CHF 160 billion in assets under management at the end of December 2022, 2,500 employees, and 30 locations worldwide.