Vertex invests CHF 8million in Sensimed

Sensimed AG, a Swiss company, has developed a non-invasive soft contact lens-based solution, the SENSIMED Triggerfish that revolutionizes glaucoma management by providing continuous 24-hour intraocular pressure-related profiles as well as modeling and analysis of patterns. The 24-hour profiles, centralized on a registry together with patient and treatment information, are processed by powerful modeling and learning algorithms identifying pathological patterns that can be used to differentiate indication, to personalize treatment, and to predict risk of progression or of conversion to glaucoma in at risk populations.

“We’re happy to support Sensimed in bringing to market a technology that will shift the paradigm in glaucoma disease management. Our firm’s focus has been to invest in and build global leaders in specific sectors. We see Sensimed as being one of them”, says Chua Kee Lock, Group CEO, Vertex Venture.

“Sensimed is proud to have completed this round with such a strong partner”, comments Sensimed CEO Jean-Marc Wismer. “Besides being a strong shareholder, Vertex will also significantly contribute to the development of our activities in Asia, a region with the fastest growing incidence of glaucoma”.

About Vertex Venture Holdings
Vertex Venture Holdings Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings, investing in emerging companies globally. Since inception in 1988, Vertex has invested in more than 350 start-up companies, achieving substantial returns for investors, while helping over 150 portfolio companies realise their intrinsic value, through listings on capital markets in the US, Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and acquisitions by industry leaders. Headquartered in Singapore, with regional offices in Beijing, Shanghai (China), Taipei (Taiwan), Bangalore (India) and the Silicon Valley (USA), Vertex leverages the far-reaching network presence and combined experience to create value for both investors and portfolio companies.

About Sensimed
Sensimed spun-off in 2003 of well renowned Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) when founders Dr. Matteo Leonardi and Sacha Cerboni pursued an interest in being able to monitor intraocular pressure continuously and non-invasively. The project was initiated after a meeting between ophthalmologists and researchers brainstorming on how technology could address unmet clinical needs. Early 2009, Sensimed AG received the CE mark for the SENSIMED Triggerfish system. The company focused on conducting clinical trials on human being in well renowned centers in the European Union, and initiated controlled commercialization in selected countries. At the same time, the company was honored to receive several awards from Red Herring or CTI Medtech, among others, for the best innovative and promising private enterprises in high-tech sector in Switzerland and in Europe.