Direct from UCB Ventures

UCB Ventures’ recent investment in Durham, N.C.-based gene therapy play StrideBio Inc. marks the next phase in how the strategic investor plans to deploy its €150 million ($174 million) fund. After backing multiple healthcare VC funds, the venture arm of UCB S.A. (Euronext:UCB) now plans to invest directly in companies that are “higher risk” but still loosely align with UCB’s therapeutic focus.

VP and Head of UCB Ventures Erica Whittaker told BioCentury that the fund, which launched last year, initially invested an undisclosed proportion of its fund in funds run by Arix Bioscience plc,...