BOSTON– The Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF), managed by SV Health Investors, has announced the final close of its second fund, DDF-2, securing $269 million in commitments. With this latest fundraise, DDF has now raised over $550 million, reinforcing its position as the world’s largest venture capital initiative exclusively focused on advancing novel therapeutics for dementia.
DDF-2 has already invested in four companies and will ultimately support a portfolio of 10 to 15 biotech ventures across the U.S., UK, and Europe. The fund continues DDF’s strategic focus on backing innovative drug developers and platform technologies aimed at addressing the urgent global need for effective dementia treatments.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 50 million people worldwide are currently living with dementia, and nearly 10 million new cases are diagnosed annually. Despite its growing prevalence and the devastating human and economic toll, effective therapies remain limited.
“With the economic burden of dementia projected to surpass $3 trillion annually—more than the entire global prescription drug market—we must urgently apply the same level of innovation we’ve seen in areas like cancer to this critical space,” said Kate Bingham, Managing Partner at SV Health Investors. “DDF-2 is ready to do just that.”
The second fund is backed by a combination of returning and new investors, including AARP, British Business Bank, Gates Frontier, and major pharmaceutical companies Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, and Pfizer. The Alzheimer’s Association also joined as a new investor in the final close.
SV Health Investors Partner Jonathan Behr emphasized the increasing momentum in dementia drug development, noting that recent regulatory approvals of the first disease-modifying Alzheimer’s therapies demonstrate the viability of breakthroughs in the field. “With DDF-2, we have a renewed opportunity to support transformative innovation while delivering returns through strategic investments in emerging treatments,” Behr said.
Laurence Barker, another Partner at SV Health Investors, highlighted the deep scientific expertise behind the fund’s strategy. “Our PhD-trained investment team collaborates closely with veteran venture partners who bring over 200 years of collective neuroscience R&D experience. This allows us to identify and support the most promising ideas and shepherd them to successful outcomes for both patients and investors.”
Christian Jung, Partner at SV Health Investors, noted that DDF’s efforts have already had a tangible impact. “More than 2,000 people have received experimental treatments as a result of our investments, offering renewed hope in the mission to defeat dementia,” he said. “DDF-2 will build on that foundation with a science-driven approach focused on therapeutic breakthroughs and investor value.”
DDF-2 aims to continue building companies from the ground up, as it did with half of its existing portfolio, and plans to support over 50 active drug development programs through its investments. The fund’s closing underscores growing investor confidence in the potential for targeted innovation to change the landscape of dementia treatment.
