Diurnal Secures £450K Investment


1st April 2009

Diurnal, the physiological hormone replacement company, announced today that it has secured more than £250,000 (USD $350K; Euro €280K) in venture capital investment from Finance Wales, Fusion IP PLC and the Viking Fund.

Diurnal received the investment and an additional £200,000 (USD $280K; Euro €224K) development grant from the pharmaceutical company Pfizer to develop an endocrine (hormone) multi-platform treatment that will benefit a range of chronic illnesses.

Diurnal's endocrine therapies have the potential to help patients with deficiencies in steroid hormones, testosterone, thyroid hormones and associated conditions. These can include regulating metabolism, growth development and puberty, tissue function and in determining mood.

Each of these deficiencies requires life-long treatment that Diurnals novel approach to drug delivery would make easier for the body to accept by mimicking its natural hormone levels.

Finance Wales is investing £150,000 (USD $210K; Euro €168K) equity alongside £50,000 (USD $70K; Euro €56K) each from the Viking Fund and university investment group, Fusion IP PLC, of which Diurnal Ltd is a subsidiary. Diurnal was originally spun out from the University of Sheffield but will be headquartered at offices in Cardiff (Wales, UK) and will work closely with Tredegar-based Penn Pharmaceuticals (Wales, UK) to develop its new formulation approach.

Martin Whitaker, General Manager at Diurnal Ltd, said:

"This funding was paramount - the investment will allow us to develop our drug development programmes to the next level and closer to final testing, licensing and commercialisation. The impact will be considerable to people who suffer from reduced cortisol and testosterone levels and by working with the body's natural rhythm it could drastically improve their lives."

Jocelyn Brown, an Associate at Finance Wales plc, which provides commercial funding to businesses in Wales, stated:

"Diurnal Ltd is an innovative early stage pharmaceutical company that has yielded novel product opportunities through innovative research activities to commercialisation."

"The company's rich pipeline of product opportunities has significant market potential. Our investment, together with that of the co-investors, will support the company's growth and development at a critical time within its life-cycle,"

David Baynes, CEO of Fusion IP, added:

"This fundraising is a great endorsement to Diurnal's exciting science and Fusion IP is pleased to continue its support of the company through participation in this financing round."

Commenting on its investment in Diurnal Ltd, Andrew Burton, Managing Director of Viking said:

"Diurnal has identified a strong need to improve the efficiency and delivery of hormones to patients. This is a good proposition and an excellent addition to Viking's portfolio of investments".

Diurnal Limited (Company Number: 05237326) is registered in England & Wales. Registered office: Cardiff Medicentre, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4UJ, UK.