Chiroscience Group Plc was a British-based biotech company, founded by Christopher Evans. The company was taken over by Celltech in 1999, which was acquired in 2004 by UCB.
History
Chiroscience was born from the demise of the company Enzymatix, which was ultimately acquired by Genzyme,[2] when Andrew Richards joined the company and convinced Evans and Peter Keen to launch Chiros, name of which was quickly revised to Chrioscience.[3] Seed funding for the company of GB£3 million was provided by Schroder Ventures, Apax and 3i.[3] Chiroscience became one of the first biotechnology Initial Public Offerings in the United Kingdom in 1994.[3]
In 1996, the company merged with the American biotech company Darwin Molecular Corporation, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, retaining Chiroscience as its name.[4]
By the time of its merger with Celltech in 1999,[5] both Chris Evans and Peter Keen had left the company, leaving Andrew Richards as the sole remaining founder and original board member.[3]
See also
References and notes
Further reading
- This shows performance of stock from May 1995 to May 1996.
- Contains a graphic showing company stock performance across 1994 to 1996.
External links
References
- Start year has been reported also as 1992. See Springett 1996 citation.^
- Genzyme Corp International Directory of Company Histories, 2006^
- Tony Quested. Cream of life science entrepreneurs’ first venture was selling doughnuts Business Weekly, Q Communications, June 7, 2015, retrieved December 24, 2018^
- Pauline Springett. Chiroscience buys Darwin The Guardian, November 21, 1996, retrieved December 24, 2018^
- The companies were of roughly equal valuation when the merger took place.^
- Focus Chiroscience The Guardian, Guardian Newspapers, Ltd., May 7, 1999, retrieved December 24, 2018^
- Audrey Choi. Research is taming the 'bad side' of medicines Honolulu Star-Bulletin, November 16, 1995, retrieved December 24, 2018^