Gilde Healthcare Invests in Virology Services

Investment firm Gilde Healthcare has acquired a majority share in Viroclinics Biosciences, a virology contract research organisation, from Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam. The transaction paved the way for an exit of Erasmus MC, the founding institute that was pivotal for the initial successful growth path of the company. Viroclinics intends to continue its long lasting collaboration with the Viroscience unit at the Institute and co-develop new laboratory services in the field of virology.

 "With Gilde as new shareholder we have secured access to capital for the company's mid- and long-term strategic goals", says Bob van Gemen, CEO of Viroclinics. “This will enable us to expand our service offering while building on our current strengths. The new partnership with Gilde has neither implications for the management nor organizational structure of the company.”

Jasper van Gorp, Partner at Gilde Healthcare said: “We were impressed by Viroclinics' high quality clinical laboratory services for the pharmaceutical industry. We believe there is a growing need for this type of service to aid in the development of drugs and vaccines to combat existing and future viruses."