Mercia Technologies PLC £2.4million syndicated investment into Medherant (6120Z)

TIDMMERC

RNS Number : 6120Z

Mercia Technologies PLC

21 May 2019

 
 RNS               21 May 2019 
 

Mercia Technologies PLC

("Mercia")

Mercia invests GBP2.0million into Medherant

Mercia Technologies PLC (AIM: MERC), the national investment group focused on the identification, creation, funding and scaling of innovative technology businesses with high growth potential from the UK regions, has today announced an additional GBP2.0million direct investment as part of a circa GBP2.4million syndicated investment round into Medherant Limited ("Medherant"), the clinical-stage company developing innovative products for pain and CNS diseases using a unique transdermal delivery technology, TEPI Patch(R).

The global transdermal drug delivery market in which Medherant operates is expected to reach $7.1billion by 2023 from an estimated $5.7billion in 2018, at a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period[1].

Medherant spun out of the University of Warwick in 2014 and received its first investment from Mercia's managed funds in 2015. Since then the company has developed an extensive patent estate and secured an exclusive worldwide licence from Bostik SA for the medical use of a novel adhesive. Mercia now holds a 33.6% direct equity stake in the business.

This latest investment will enable Medherant to finalise the selection of three TEPI Patch(R) products to take into clinical development.

Medherant will be showcasing its unique patch technology to over 16,000 attendees from 74 countries at the BIO International Convention in Philadelphia at the beginning of June.

Nigel Davis, CEO of Medherant, said: "TEPI Patch(R) technology holds great promise as a better way of delivering many different types of drugs. We are pleased to have supportive investors led by Mercia who are enabling us to progress the development of patch products that will bring significant benefits to patients across the globe."

Mark Payton, Chief Executive Officer at Mercia Technologies PLC, said: "Medherant represents Mercia's second largest investment within our direct investment portfolio of Life Science & Biosciences companies, which combined account for circa 25% of our direct investment portfolio by value. We are encouraged by the progress the team is making and this latest round of syndicated investment will support the continued development of Medherant's suite of unique transdermal patches, targeted at attractive high-growth markets with significant unmet medical needs."

For further information, please contact:

 
 Mercia Technologies PLC                 [phone] 
 Mark Payton, Chief Executive Officer 
 Martin Glanfield, Chief Financial 
  Officer 
 www.merciatech.co.uk 
 
 Canaccord Genuity Limited               [phone] 
 Simon Bridges, Emma Gabriel (NOMAD 
  and Broker) 
 
 Buchanan                                [phone] 
 Chris Lane, Vicky Hayns, Stephanie 
  Watson 
 www.buchanan.uk.com 
 

About Mercia Technologies PLC

Mercia is a national investment group focused on the funding and scaling of innovative technology businesses with high growth potential from the UK regions. The Group benefits from 19 university partnerships and offices across the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland providing it with access to high quality, regional deal flow. Mercia Technologies PLC is quoted on AIM with the epic "MERC".

Mercia's 'Complete Capital Solution' initially nurtures businesses via its third-party funds and then over time Mercia can provide further funding to the most promising companies, by deploying direct investment follow-on capital from its own balance sheet. Mercia has circa GBP500million of assets under management and, since its IPO in December 2014, has invested over GBP78million across its direct investment portfolio.

[1] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-transdermal-drug-delivery-system-market-2018-2023-opportunities-with-collaborations-between-pharmaceutical-companies-and-drug-delivery-firms-300777521.html

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May 21, 2019 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)