AESCAP Venture takes 25% stake in i-Optics
Amsterdam, Netherlands (November 16, 2007) - Aescap Venture has taken a
25% stake in the Dutch medtech company i-Optics.
i-Optics’ eye diagnostics fulfil the need of affordable and user friendly retinal
cameras. Key application of the retinal camera is screening for potentially
blinding diseases like Diabetic RetinoPathy (DRP) and Macular Degeneration.
Diabetes patients should be examined every year on early signs of DRP.
However, in many countries less than 50% of diabetes patients are screened
due to camera costs, the complexity to operate these cameras and due to the
required pupil dilation, a common cause for patients to drop out of screening
programs.
i-Optics proprietary technology does not require pupil dilation, thus allows
patients to drive home after having their eyes screened. Initial clinical validation
of its prototype camera has started.
The company’s lead camera product will be tested in the USA in a comparative
clinical trial involving 1000 patients. Two other innovative diagnostic cameras,
one for the use on infants and the other for R&D purposes, are in late stage
development.
Patrick Krol, partner at Aescap and chairman of i-Optics’ supervisory board, was
highly impressed by the company’s patented technology and its potential: “We
typically are interested to invest in medical solutions which can decrease
healthcare costs. It’s still very hard to find proprietary technology that is both
broadly applicable and will reduce costs dramatically. i-Optics is one of these
rare cases”.
Contacts:
Aescap Venture Management BV
Patrick Krol
Strawinskylaan 629
World Trade Center B-Toren
Amsterdam
T: +31(0)20 570 2940
F: +31(0)20 673 7846
E-mail: pkrol@aescap.com
www.aescap.com
i-Optics BV
Michiel Mensink
Rotterdamseweg 145
2628 AL
Delft
T: +31(0) 6 242 1247
F: +31(0) 15 278 8842
E-mail: mensink@i-optics.net
www.i-optics.net
About Aescap Venture
Aescap Venture is a venture capital firm focusing on the creation and growth of
European biomedical companies. Through early and active involvement in the
companies, Aescap Venture will achieve an accelerated development of its
portfolio companies and their products.
Aescap Venture Fund I has € 103 million under management. The founders of
Aescap are Michiel de Haan, the founder and CEO of Atlas Venture until 2000
and Dinko Valerio PhD, the founder and former CEO of Crucell, a Euronext /
NASDAQ-listed biotechnology company. Additional Partners are Patrick Krol
MBA, a successful entrepreneur and expert in Life Science marketing and
business development and Kreske Nickelsen MSc/MBA, previous Director at 3i,
with 10 years of experience in European Life Science venture capital.
For more information, visit www.aescap.com
About i-Optics BV
i-Optics has invented and developed an affordable, high-quality and patientfriendly retina camera.
i-Optics was established in 2003 in Delft, The Netherlands, by ex McKinsey
Michiel Mensink. By the end of that year i-Optics proved the feasibility of the
retinal imaging technology. With funding from the Dutch and US government, a
small, portable prototype has been developed.
Two other innovative diagnostic cameras, one for the use with infants and the
other for use in pharma R&D, are in late stage development.
For more information, visit www.i-optics.net