Christian Schneider

AplaGen was founded in April 2001 by Prof. Dr. med. Hans-Georg Frank, Prof. Dr. med. Peter Kaufmann and Dr. Franzpeter Bracht. Its basic technologies were a spin-off of the University of Technology Aachen, Germany (RWTH). From this starting point, AplaGen has transformed into a company with broad expertise in peptide design, synthesis and analysis. It has successfully developed own products with independent patent protection for major markets, including the anemia market (EPO-market) and the thrombocytopenia market. The discovery of cytokine-mimetic peptides defines its core expertise. With its proprietary cytokine-mimetic peptide products, AplaGen is approaching large existing biopharmaceutical markets in a 'smart-follower' position, which provides an optimal risk/chance profile. Pharmacokinetic optimization of peptides is based on the approved drug Hydroxyethylstarch (HES) and protected by AplaGen´s IP. As privately held company, AplaGen has closed seed financing in 2001 and a series financing in 2005. AplaGen is dedicated to improvements for patients with dysfunctional bone marrow, especially oncologic patients. Both, erythropoietin and Thrombopoietin mimetic peptides will be developed by AplaGen at least until Phase II. To support this focus on oncologic indications AplaGen is seeking early partners for the erythropoietin mimetic peptide in the indication of renal anemia.

PolyTechnos Venture-Partners II GmbH (PTVP) is an independent partner-owned European private equity firm established in 1998 and based in Munich with a U.S. office in Silicon Valley. Their clients include financial institutions, banks, insurance companies, universities, foundations, corporations and fund-of-funds. They operate in close relationship with U.S. venture capital firms based on the West Coast. PTVP manages and divests a portfolio of private equity participations held through two maturing funds, namely the German fund PolyTechnos Venture Fund II and the UK fund Enabling Technology. PTVP's successor firm PT Capital-Partners GmbH was established in 2008.

Centocor, Inc. manufactures healthcare products. Its products include avakine & reopro. The company was founded in 1979 by Hubert J. P. Schoemaker & Michael A. Wall and is headquartered in Horsham, PA.

Part of Roche Holding AG, Roche Diagnostics GmbH is a German company that develops innovative medicines, treatments, and diagnostics. The company is based in Mannheim, Germany. The CEOs of the company are Claudia Fleischer, Claus Haberda, Clemens Schmid. Roche Diagnostics was acquired by Roche Holding AG on January 01, 1999.

deVGen NV provides biotechnology services for the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. It innovates in crop protection research and environment induced stress tolerance for its own crops and provides technology to corporate partners. The firm produces and sells its hybrid seeds in field crops such as rice, sunflower, sorghum and pearl millet in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The company was founded by Thierry Bogaert on September 10, 1997 and is headquartered in Ghent, Belgium.

Shire Orphan Therapies GmbH engages in the development, manufacture, and distribution of chemical and biochemical products, ingredients, as well as pharmaceutical and diagnostic products. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Berlin, Germany.

Vectura GmbH manufactures and develops pharmaceutical therapies for airways diseases. It offers dry powder formulation technology, device technology, and development capabilities. The company was founded by Gerhard Scheuch in 1997 and is headquartered in Gemünden, Germany.

Vesalius Biocapital Partners SARL (Vesalius Biocapital Partners) is an independent venture capital firm founded in 2007 by Stéphane Verdood. The firm is headquartered in Luxembourg.