Investing In Dementia Discovery: A Guide To The Dementia Discovery Fund

The Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF) is a venture capital fund that focuses on discovering and developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly those associated with dementia. With offices in London and Boston, the fund has raised over $500 million and is managed by SV Health Investors. The DDF invests in biotech companies that are developing innovative therapeutics for dementia, including Alzheimer's Disease, which affects over 55 million people worldwide. To achieve its goals, the DDF utilizes its network of venture partners, entrepreneurs, leading scientists, and strategic partners, creating new biotech companies and providing thought leadership in the field. The fund has attracted investments from notable individuals and organizations, such as Bill Gates and the NFL Players Association, demonstrating its potential to make a significant impact in the field of dementia research and treatment.

The Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF)

The DDF was established in 2015 and saw its final close at £250 million in 2018, making it the largest venture capital fund focused on discovering and developing novel disease-modifying therapeutics for all forms of dementia. The fund is enabled by its limited partners, including major pharmaceutical companies such as Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Otsuka (Astex), Pfizer, and Takeda. Additionally, the DDF has received investments from notable individuals and organisations like Bill Gates, the NFL Players Association, the UK's Department of Health and Social Care, and the charity Alzheimer's Research UK.

The DDF combines a sole focus on dementia with the rigour of for-profit venture capital investing. It seeks to maintain deep domain expertise in both innovative research and clinical development, applying learnings and refining its investment strategy over time. The fund invests in opportunities expected to have a major impact on patient care and deliver financial returns for its limited partners. To meet its ambitious goals, the DDF team builds a diverse portfolio of investments, proactively sourcing and creating deals in key areas where the underlying science supports drug discovery.

The challenge posed by dementia is significant, with around 50 million people affected worldwide and nearly 10 million new cases each year. Dementia, including Alzheimer's Disease, poses a growing global health threat as the average age of the population increases. The lack of effective treatments further underscores the critical need for finding ways to treat this cruel disease, which robs people of their abilities, personality, and dignity.

DDF's unique venture capital strategy

The Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF) is the world's largest family of specialised venture capital funds that invest exclusively in companies developing or enabling novel therapeutics for dementia. With a sole focus on dementia, DDF combines this with the rigour of for-profit venture capital investing. This focus enables the fund to maintain its deep domain expertise in both innovative research and clinical development, apply learnings, and repeatedly engage the scientific and industrial community to refine its investment strategy over time.

To meet their ambitious goals, DDF builds a diverse portfolio of investments. They engage in proactive deal sourcing and creation by interrogating key areas where the underlying science is mature enough to support drug discovery. With concentrated investment, they aim to enable new therapeutic strategies and are always looking for new and emerging areas of research and development to invest in.

DDF is managed by SV Health Investors, a leading life sciences venture capital and growth equity firm. SV Health Investors has been investing in biotech companies for over 25 years and has a proven track record of identifying early-stage research opportunities and supporting their development into novel medicines. With offices in London and Boston, DDF has raised over $500 million and capitalises on global investment opportunities to deliver measurable impact and generate significant financial returns.

DDF's investment in biotech companies

The Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF) is the world's largest family of specialised venture capital funds that invest exclusively in companies developing or enabling novel therapeutics for dementia. With more than $500 million raised for this strategy, the DDF has offices in London and Boston and is managed by SV Health Investors.

DDF's investment strategy combines a sole focus on dementia with the rigour of for-profit venture capital investing. This focus enables the fund to maintain its deep domain expertise in both innovative research and clinical development and to apply learnings to refine its investment strategy over time. The fund invests in opportunities expected to have a major impact on the field and patient care and to deliver financial returns for its limited partners.

To differentiate its investments and meet its ambitious goals, the DDF team builds a diverse portfolio of investments. They engage in proactive deal sourcing and creation by interrogating key areas where the underlying science is mature enough to support drug discovery. With concentrated investment, these areas have the potential to enable new therapeutic strategies. The team is constantly looking at new and emerging areas of research and development and is ready to invest.

DDF invests in and creates new biotech companies, providing thought leadership in the field. They seek companies led by bold entrepreneurs, across the full spectrum of company and asset stage opportunities. Where they do not see others leading the way to create companies informed by cutting-edge science, they will build those companies themselves, assisted by their bench of experienced entrepreneurs and company creators.

DDF is enabled by its limited partners, including major pharmaceutical companies such as Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Co., GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Otsuka (Astex), Pfizer, and Takeda. In addition, DDF has support from organisations like AARP, Aegon, Bill Gates, British Patient Capital, NFL Players Association, Quest Diagnostics, UnitedHealth Group, and the non-profits Alzheimer’s Research UK and LifeArc.

DDF's global investment opportunities

The Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF) is the world's largest family of specialised venture capital funds that invest exclusively in companies developing novel therapeutics for dementia. With more than $500 million raised, and offices in London and Boston, DDF capitalises on global investment opportunities to deliver measurable impact and generate significant financial returns.

DDF is enabled by its limited partners, including major pharmaceutical companies such as Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Co., GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Otsuka (Astex), Pfizer, and Takeda. It also has support from non-profits like Alzheimer's Research UK and LifeArc. This diverse group of investors allows DDF to tap into a wide range of expertise and networks, strengthening its investment opportunities.

Additionally, DDF's mandate to interrogate novel hypotheses and expand the breadth of targets and mechanisms in dementia therapy development further expands its global investment opportunities. This mandate enables DDF to invest in early-stage projects, explore novel biological insights, and translate them into disease-modifying drugs. By focusing on areas with mature underlying science, DDF can strategically allocate its resources to enable new therapeutic strategies and maximise the potential impact of its investments.

In conclusion, DDF's global investment opportunities are characterised by its ability to bring together diverse investors, create new biotech companies, proactively source investment opportunities, and focus on novel hypotheses and early-stage projects. These factors position DDF well to capitalise on a wide range of investment prospects and advance its mission of developing novel therapeutics for dementia.

DDF's scientific advisory board

The Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF) is the world's largest family of specialised venture capital funds that invest exclusively in companies developing or enabling novel therapeutics for dementia. It is managed by SV Health Investors and has offices in London and Boston.

• Luca Santarelli (Chair, Europe)
• Rana Al-Hallaq (Pfizer, USA)
• Niranjan Bose (Gates Ventures, USA)
• Chas Bountra OBE (Independent, University of Oxford & Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, UK)
• Ceri Davies (Takeda, USA)
• Michael Heneka (Scientific Advisor, Therapeutics Europe)
• Michael Hutton (Eli Lilly and Company, USA)
• Alastair D Reith (GlaxoSmithKline, UK)
• Dominic Walsh (Biogen, USA)
• Charlotte Yeh (AARP, USA)
• Simon Lovestone (J&J, Europe)
• Susan Kohlhaas (Alzheimer's Research UK, UK)

The DDF combines an exclusive focus on dementia with the rigour of for-profit venture capital investing. The fund invests in opportunities expected to have a major impact on the field and patient care, and to deliver financial returns for its limited partners.

Frequently asked questions