TLDR:
- Symbiotic Capital launches with over $600M to provide loans to life sciences businesses
- The credit firm, led by biotech entrepreneur Arie Belldegrun, aims to fill a financing gap for companies in the sector
Symbiotic Capital, a new life science credit firm, has been launched with more than $600 million in funding to provide loans to biotechs and other life sciences businesses. Led by biotech entrepreneur Arie Belldegrun, the firm aims to address the financing needs of companies in the sector, especially as access to public and private equity investments has become more limited in recent years.
Life science startups traditionally rely on venture capital funding, but with many years before generating revenues, they often lack a clear path to repaying loans. Symbiotic’s fund aims to support these companies that seek alternative financing options beyond equity investments. Belldegrun, along with other industry experts like former Roche CEO Franz Humer, brings a wealth of knowledge to the firm, making it uniquely positioned to understand the specific challenges faced by life science companies.
While Symbiotic just publicly launched, it has already been providing loans since January 2024, with companies like Cleveland Diagnostics and Accelus already benefitting from their credit facilities. The firm joins a small group of companies providing loans to life science businesses, filling a crucial gap in the market. Other options include Hercules Capital, Bluebird bio, and Blackstone, each offering different financing options to companies in the sector.
