"We are proud to continue to partner with visionary entrepreneurs who arebuilding companies that are transforming healthcare. An extraordinarynumber of unmet clinical needs remain in healthcare, and we look forward tocontinuing to be a springboard for these meaningful innovations," saidBrian Atwood, Managing Director.

Versant IV will target approximately 30-35 medical device, biotech, andpharmaceutical investments throughout the U.S. While the fund'sinvestments will be primarily focused on early-stage and seedopportunities, a limited number may also target later-stage companies aswell. "The $500 M fund size will enable us to support a full range ofentrepreneurial initiatives -- from a few hundred thousand dollar seed to a$20 M investment over the full life of the company," said KevinWasserstein, Managing Director.

Versant IV's Managing Directors include, Brian Atwood, Brad Bolzon, Ph.D.,Sam Colella, Ross Jaffe, M.D., Bill Link, Ph.D., Robin Praeger, BeckieRobertson, Camille Samuels, Charles Warden and Kevin Wasserstein. Theinvestment team also includes Kirk Nielsen, Principal, and Sammy Farah,Ph.D., Associate.

About Versant Ventures

Since its formation in 1999, Versant Ventures, a premier early-stagehealthcare venture firm, has invested in over 95 healthcare companies thathave made important clinical contributions across a breadth of therapeuticareas. Some examples of recent impact companies include: LipoSonix, Inc.;St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.; NovaCardia, Inc.; Pharmion Corp.;Eyeonics, Inc.; and a number of now-current public companies includingGenomic Health; Insulet Corp.; and Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Versant'stwo primary offices are in Menlo Park and Newport Beach, California. Formore information, please visit www.versantventures.com.