Bayer's ear to the ground

The Bayer HealthCare unit of Bayer AG (Xetra:BAYN) is expanding its relationship with Versant Ventures by becoming an LP in the VC firm's new fund. Christopher Haskell, head of Bayer's U.S. Science Hub, told BioCentury the move is part of the pharma's push to identify areas of emerging innovation, building on activities that include the incubator it established in 2012 near the University of California, San Francisco.

Bayer is investing up to $25 million in Versant's fifth fund, for which the firm raised $295.5 million, according to a June SEC filing. Versant did not answer BioCentury's questions about the exact amount Bayer has committed, or whether Bayer is the first or only pharma LP in the fund...