Vascugen has collected an undisclosed sum from investors including Indiana University Philanthropic Venture Fund to commercialise medicines for vascular-degenerative diseases based on IU technology.

Vascugen, a US-based regenerative medicine developer based on Indiana University (IU) technology, secured an undisclosed sum on Friday in a round featuring IU Philanthropic Venture Fund and angel investor Donald Brown.
IU Philanthropic Venture Fund is a $15m vehicle managed by the university’s investment affiliate IU Research and Technology Corporation.
Founded in 2017, Vascugen is working on stem cell therapies for vascular-degenerative diseases which reduce blood flow by damaging the body’s network of arteries, veins and lymph tubes.
The company’s first candidate aims to combat restricted blood supply to leg muscles caused by accumulated fat deposits in the arteries, a condition known as peripheral arterial disease.
Vascugen will use the capital to refine and scale its development processes with the aim of producing a clinical-standard product. Proceeds will also support its bid to establish pharmaceutical partnerships and develop other intellectual properties.
The spinout was founded by Mervin Yoder, a distinguished professor emeritus in IU’s School of Medicine with expertise in vascular stem cell biology.
Vascugen licensed Yoder’s blood vessel generation invention and other intellectual properties from Indiana University’s tech transfer arm, Innovation and Commercialization Office, in May 2018.
Teri Willey, managing director and fund manager of IU Research and Technology Corporation, said: “Vascugen is developing regenerative medicines based on technology developed at Indiana University.
“The company has assembled a world-class team to advance a pipeline of new therapeutics with the potential to address multiple unmet medical needs that afflict patients in Indiana and globally.”