Financing start-up companies in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries for synergies with the Debiopharm Group

The objective of Debioinnovation is to add synergies to the core drug development expertise and business focus of Debiopharm Group, through the financing of biotech start-up companies. Adjacent and related technologies like companion diagnostics, biomarker development and large molecule capabilities are particular areas of interest.

Per year, Debioinnovation aims to invest in two to three companies, with a capital participation in each company not to exceed 20%, and with representation on the Management Board.

Milestones

To this date, the Company has invested in four companies, including Eclosion, NanoCarrier, NeoVacs and TcLand.

Management 

Rolland-Yves Mauvernay President and Founder, Debiopharm Group

Dr. Mauvernay completed his medical studies at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy at the University of Strasbourg, France and later obtained his Ph.D. in Biology, Bacteriology and Pharmacy. In 1953, he established RIOM Laboratories, in Auvergne, France and purchased several pharmaceutical laboratories and various rare molecules. In 1973, he sold RIOM and in 1979, founded Debiopharm S.A., a biopharmaceutical development company which fully funds and develops innovative therapeutics. He later created Debio R.P. S.A., specialising in the development of sustained-release advanced drug delivery systems and manufacturing. In 1993, he founded Debioclinic S.A., a clinical research organisation in Paris and in 2005, added Montreal-based Debiovision Inc. to the company.

Today, Dr. Mauvernay heads a group of 300 employees, supported by 500 external experts, who are responsible for research and development.

Thierry Mauvernay Vice President, Debiopharm Group

Mr. Mauvernay received his Master of Science in Economics in 1975. He then obtained a degree from the 'Institut d'Administration des Entreprises’ and a ‘Diplôme d'Études Supérieures Spécialisées en Marketing’ in Clermont-Ferrand, France in 1976.  In 1978, he founded an international cosmetics company, which he later sold but continued to manage until July 2001, when he joined Debiopharm S.A. as Executive Vice President with direct responsibilities for the Finance and Administration Department. In 2006, Mr Mauvernay handed over his operational activities within Debiopharm S.A. and has since been focusing on the administration, finance and strategy of Debiopharm Group. He is also administrator of the Debiopharm Group companies.

Kim Bill Vice President, Corporate Development, Debiopharm Group

Mrs Bill graduated from the National University of Singapore with a degree in Pharmacy and later pursued an MBA from the University of Hull in the UK. Previous job experiences include Marketing Executive at Diethelm Singapore Pte Ltd; Product Manager and Marketing Director at Les Laboratoires Servier in Paris, France and Serono as Director of Scientific Affairs in the Asia-Pacific Region and Marketing Director in the International Operations in Switzerland. She joined Debiopharm S.A. in 1998.