Mérieux Equity Partners
Investment platform of Institut Mérieux
Also known as MERIEUX EQUITY PARTNERS SAS
Lyon healthcare investment firm of Institut Mérieux, the family-owned Mérieux group; runs the Mérieux Innovation venture and Mérieux Participations buyout funds; ~€1.5bn managed (2025 press figure).
USEFUL FOR Business owners seeking a long-term partner · Co-investors
Healthcare investment firm of Institut Mérieux, the family-owned Mérieux group; it manages funds (Mérieux Innovation, Mérieux Participations) and is not a single-family office. Distinct from bioMérieux (diagnostics) and Fondation Mérieux.
Family & background
- FAMILY
- Mérieux
- WEALTH ORIGIN
- Life sciences and diagnostics (Institut Mérieux; bioMérieux)
- HEADQUARTERS
- Lyon, France
- FOUNDED
- 2018
- OUTSIDE CAPITAL
- Yes — also manages others' money
Investment approach
- STAGES
- Series BBuyout
- ROUTES
- Companies (own capital)
- STRATEGIES
- Venture capitalPrivate equity
Overview
Mérieux Equity Partners is a Lyon-based healthcare investment firm registered in 2018 and described by Le Journal des Entreprises as the investment fund of Institut Mérieux; Mérieux NutriSciences describes Institut Mérieux as an independent, family-owned French group and lists Mérieux Equity Partners among its entities devoted to innovation. In October 2025 Le Journal des Entreprises reported 28 staff and €1.5bn under management, buyout tickets of €20m to €80m in healthcare companies, a new buyout fund planned for 2026 and the venture fund Mérieux Innovation 2, launched in April 2025 with a €150m first-closing target. Recent deals include a 20% minority stake in Health in Code through Mérieux Participations 4 (February 2026), co-leading Ona Therapeutics' $86.6m Series B (June 2026) and co-leading HighLife's €80m round (September 2026).
Holdings & investments (4)
- HighLife MedicalNOTABLEHealthTech · since 2026
- Health in CodeNOTABLEHealthTech · since 2026 · Minority stake (20%, via Mérieux Participations 4)
- Biotech & Life Sciences · since 2026
- DeepullHealthTech · since 2025
People
- Emna BourkhisInvestment director (new buyout fund) · source
- Valérie CalendaManaging Partner and Head of Innovation · source
- Theodor WuppermannPartner · source
- Christine DemodeDirector (administrateur) · source
- Jean-François BilletDirector (administrateur) · source
- Alexandre MérieuxDirector (administrateur) · source
- Bertrand RambaudDirector (administrateur) · source
- Michel BaguenaultDirector (administrateur) · source
Frequently asked questions
Mérieux Equity Partners is a family-anchored fund based in Lyon, France, founded in 2018.
Mérieux Equity Partners invests on behalf of the Mérieux family (Life sciences and diagnostics (Institut Mérieux; bioMérieux)).
Mérieux Equity Partners invests its own capital into companies. Its stated asset mix includes venture capital and private equity.
Mérieux Equity Partners invests at Series B and Buyout stages in HealthTech and Biotech & Life Sciences.
Key people at Mérieux Equity Partners include Valérie Calenda (Managing Partner and Head of Innovation), Theodor Wuppermann (Partner), Emna Bourkhis (Investment director (new buyout fund)) and Christine Demode (Director (administrateur)).
Mérieux Equity Partners's holdings and investments include HighLife Medical, Health in Code, Ona Therapeutics and Deepull.
The most recent publicly reported investment by Mérieux Equity Partners is HighLife Medical (€80M financing round (co-lead)), announced in Sep 2026.
Yes. Mérieux Equity Partners manages capital from outside investors.