Dementia Discovery Fund

The Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF) is the world's largest family of specialized venture capital funds focused solely on investing in companies developing or enabling novel therapeutics for dementia. Managed by SV Health Investors, DDF has raised over $550 million to date, with offices in London and Boston. The fund aims to address the significant unmet medical need in dementia treatment by supporting innovative biotech companies worldwide.

DDF's investment strategy encompasses the entire spectrum of company and asset stages, from target identification to clinical development. The fund focuses on early-stage biotech companies developing disease-modifying therapeutics for various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and other neurodegenerative conditions. By leveraging its extensive network of venture partners, entrepreneurs, leading scientists, and strategic partners, DDF invests in and creates new biotech companies, providing thought leadership in the field.

Notable investments by DDF include Cerevance, which utilizes a proprietary technology platform for molecular analysis of specific cell types in human brain tissue; Therini Bio, developing therapies targeting inflammatory fibrin; and Caraway Therapeutics, which was acquired by Merck for up to $610 million. The fund's diverse group of investors includes major pharmaceutical companies such as Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Co., GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Otsuka (Astex), Pfizer, and Takeda, along with organizations like AARP, Aegon, British Business Bank, Gates Frontier, UnitedHealth Group, and non-profits such as the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, and LifeArc.

DDF's commitment to accelerating the development of new treatments for dementia is evident through its substantial financial backing and strategic partnerships. By focusing exclusively on this area, the fund aims to make a measurable impact on the lives of patients worldwide, while generating significant financial returns for its investors.