SAN FRANCISCO – Health Evolution Partners (HEP), a manager of healthcare investment funds, announced today the formation of a life sciences team in the Health Evolution Partners Growth Fund. The team will focus on investments in commercial-stage life sciences companies with the potential to be market leaders in many sectors, including medical devices/products, specialty pharmaceuticals, drug delivery technologies, outsourcing, manufacturing and research.
“We see a lot of opportunity to bring our capital, expertise and network to life sciences companies that have demonstrated commercial success,” said David Brailer, MD, PhD, Chairman of Health Evolution Partners. “The life sciences team joins our services and health information technology teams in seeking out the most promising health care investment opportunities.”
Brailer served as the nation's first healthcare IT coordinator, appointed by former President George W. Bush.
Consistent with the HEP philosophy, the life sciences team will provide guidance to portfolio companies to optimize their growth and performance potential. All HEP portfolio companies have access to the Health Evolution Partners Innovation Network (HEPIN), a network of health care industry experts, policy-makers, entrepreneurs and thought leaders. HEPIN brings together deep knowledge about health care delivery, financing, products and policy for innovative health care companies.
Key members of the HEP life science team are Ned Brown, Avinash Kenkare and Joshua Saipe.
Ned Brown was previously a managing director at TPG Biotech. Ned has more than 25 years of experience as a private equity investor, board member, investment banker and advisor to a broad spectrum of health care companies in all sectors of the industry.
Avinash Kenkare previously focused on health care buyouts as a principal at the Carlyle Group and at Avista Capital Partners LLC. He has health care investment experience with DLJ Merchant Banking Partners and Credit Suisse Private Equity and has served as an advisor to a number of medical device, diagnostic and specialty pharma companies.
Joshua Saipe previously worked at RoundTable Healthcare Partners for over seven years. At RoundTable, he focused on principal investing in medical devices and products, specialty and generic pharmaceutical, drug delivery, and outsourced services companies. Joshua began his career as an investment banker at J.P. Morgan.
The Health Evolution Partners Growth Fund invests substantial capital in companies that are commercially proven and profitable. Investments can take the form of minority or control positions achieved through buyouts, growth capital or recapitalizations. In all cases, HEP forms close working relationships with the management teams and contributes its expertise to help build these companies’ success.
In another component of HEP's life sciences efforts, the Health Evolution Partners Spectrum Fund, an investment partnership with specialized health care funds, has made a commitment to Cowen Healthcare Royalty Partners II. Cowen Royalty manages an investment program that invests principally in commercial-stage biopharmaceutical products and companies and acquires royalty interests in end-user sales of commercial-stage, or near commercial-stage medical products, such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology products and medical devices. Related to this investment, Cowen will participate in the Health Evolution Partners Innovation Network (HEPIN).
