FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:
Nicholas Galakatos, Ph.D., Clarus Ventures, Tel.: 617-949-2223
Robert Liptak, Clarus Ventures, Tel.: 617-694-2222
Robert Stanislaro, Noonan Russo, Tel.: 212-845-4268

Clarus Ventures, a Life Sciences Venture Capital Firm,
Announces Closing of $500 MM First Fund

Cambridge, MA – December 6, 2005 – Clarus Ventures, a new life sciences venture capital firm, announced today the first and final closing of its inaugural fund totaling $500 million in commitments.

Clarus Ventures will invest its first fund primarily in US-based biopharmaceutical and specialty pharma companies with products in development at value inflection points in their lifecycle.  Secondary areas of focus will be companies specializing in biotechnology platforms or medical devices, European life sciences companies, and private investments in public entities (PIPEs).  The firm will provide both capital and operational resources necessary for the firm’s portfolio companies to succeed.  The fund will invest up to $50 million per company, with a preferred investment size of $20-30 million per company. Clarus expects to begin pursuing investment opportunities in early 2006.

“Each member of the Clarus team has a track record of consistently building companies that are emerging leaders in their sectors.  The Clarus partnership has the breadth and depth required to create significant value by investing at any stage of a lifescience company’s growth,” commented Nicholas Galakatos, Ph.D., a Clarus Ventures Managing Director.

The Clarus founding team consists of Nicholas Galakatos, Dennis Henner, Robert Liptak, Nicholas Simon, Michael Steinmetz and Kurt Wheeler.  It is an established group of investment professionals with deep and complementary backgrounds within the life sciences industry. The team uniquely balances broad investing expertise with leadership experience in major biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

The firm’s value proposition is enhanced by its exceptional relationships with thought leaders and key decision makers in the life sciences field.  These relationships allow the Clarus Ventures team to identify, evaluate and prioritize unique investment opportunities, as well as to recruit outstanding management for its portfolio companies.

About Clarus Ventures

Founded by a team of accomplished investment professionals with extensive and complementary industry backgrounds, Clarus Ventures is a life sciences venture capital firm with a team that has a unique and long history of success in creating value.  Deep relationships with thought leaders and decision makers allow this team to identify unique investment opportunities and shepherd them to maturity.Clarus augments its core expertise of investing in biopharmaceuticals, specialty pharma and medical technology with the deep and diverse experience of the team in research and development, commercialization, business development and operations management at a global level.

Clarus has offices in Cambridge, MA, and South San Francisco, CA.  For additional information on Clarus Ventures please visit www.clarusventures.com.