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Nextech Invest Closes Oncology Fund IV

Zurich (Switzerland), July 20, 2016 - Nextech Invest Ltd., the Swiss specialist oncology private equity investor, today announced the closing of its USD 64 million Oncology Fund IV with Limited Partners based in the USA, Europe and Asia. Oncology Fund IV will be invested in companies that develop therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Since its inception, Nextech Invest has raised more than USD 250 million distributed across four funds, three of which are focused uniquely on investing in Oncology.

"We are pleased to welcome our Limited Partners to Oncology Fund IV. They are investing at a very exciting time in oncology drug development. Many novel targeted drugs and immunotherapies are currently in development and we are working closely with our Scientific Board to identify the best opportunities in the field." said Alfred Scheidegger, Founding Partner at Nextech Invest. Nextech Invest's Scientific Board is chaired by Dr David Livingston (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI)/Harvard Cancer Center) and consists of leading experts in the field of Oncology including Dr Karl-Heinz Altmann (ETH Zurich), Dr Phil Greenberg (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute), Dr William Kaelin (DFCI), Dr Bruce Ponder (Cambridge University), Dr Charles Sawyers (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center), Dr Paul Workman (Institute of Cancer Research), and the recently appointed Dr Kai Wucherpfennig (DFCI). "Nextech Invest's approach is to invest in companies that have scientifically validated concepts with novel targets. We look for world-class management teams backed by strong investor syndicates as they are key criteria for the success of a company." said Thilo Schroeder, Partner at Nextech Invest.

Nextech Oncology Fund IV has already made investments in the following companies: Peloton Therapeutics, which is currently in clinical testing with small molecule HIF-2 antagonist in kidney cancer and other diseases; Kura Oncology (NASDAQ: KURA), studying its lead molecule tipifarnib in multiple clinical Phase 2 studies based on novel findings in cancer genetics; and immuno-oncology company Jounce Therapeutics, which is leveraging its translational science platform to develop novel targeted immuno-therapies. Jounce has recently entered into a major strategic collaboration with Celgene Corporation. Under the terms of the agreement, Jounce will receive an upfront payment of USD 225 million, a USD 36 million equity investment, and total milestone payments of up to USD 2.3 billion. The lead compound, a novel ICOS (Inducible T-cell Co-Stimulator) agonist will start clinical trials this year.

About Nextech Invest Ltd.
The global oncology specialist private equity firm Nextech Invest Ltd., established in 1998 in Zurich, Switzerland, focuses on investing in cancer companies. Supported by a Scientific Board of eight oncologists chaired by Prof. Dr. David Livingston, Deputy Director of Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, Nextech Invest invests in emerging companies with pioneering innovations in cancer that have compounds entering clinical trials. The other members of the Scientific Board include: Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Altmann, Prof. Dr. Philip Greenberg, Prof. Dr. William Kaelin, Dr. Charles Sawyers, Prof. Dr. Paul Workman, Dr. Kai Wucherpfennig and distinguished scientific advisor Prof. Dr. Sir Bruce Ponder. Nextech Invest is a longstanding member of SECA, and works closely with the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).

For more information, please contact:
Nextech Invest Ltd.
Tel.: +41 44 366 66 14
info@nextechinvest.com
www.nextechinvest.com