이 기사는 2021년 09월 06일 07:38 thebell 에 표출된 기사입니다.

Mirae Asset Group is ramping up its investments in the biotech sector, with Mirae Asset Capital increasing its investment in foreign biotech and healthcare startups.

Mirae Asset Capital has invested in more than 10 foreign biotech and healthcare companies in recent years, according to data compiled by the bell. Investments have been mostly funded through Mirae Asset-Celltrion New Growth Fund I, which closed at 150 billion won ($130 million) in 2017.

The fund, which was created jointly by Mirae Asset Group and Celltrion, is managed by Mirae Asset Capital. The duration of the fund is seven years since the inception. It mainly invests in companies that engage in new growth engines like biotech and healthcare, such as biomaterials firms, new drug developers, and medical device companies. The fund mostly focuses on late-stage investments instead of early-stage investments.

The fund participated in U.S.-based Vividion Therapeutics’ Series B funding round in 2019. The investment is expected to generate a hefty profit as Bayer recently agreed to acquire the firm for $1.5 billion.

The fund invested in bispecific antibody startup EpimAb Biotherapeutics in the fourth quarter of 2020. It also participated in Senti Biosciences and Valo Health’s Series B funding rounds.

The fund is making more active investments this year, investing in Omega Therapeutics, Iksuda Therapeutics, and HiFiBiO Therapeutics.

Mirae Asset Venture Investment also invested in five foreign biotech firms during the first six months of this year, including Israel-based KAHR Medical and Singapore-based Hummingbird Bioscience.

The move is part of Mirae Asset Group Chairman Park Hyeon-joo’s plans to invest 10 trillion won over the next 10 years in startups engaged in new growth engines such as biopharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. (Reporting by In-hyo Kang)