Both Will Take on a Greater Role Supporting Life Sciences Opportunities for Early Stage Venture Capital Firm

Research Triangle Park, N.C. (March 3, 2005)- The Aurora Funds, one of the leading seed and early stage venture capital firms in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic, today announced that it has promoted Dr. Chris Kroeger and Grant Jackson to the role of principals.  Both will continue to support existing portfolio companies and to identify new life sciences investment opportunities.

“Chris and Grant have made significant contributions to Aurora and our portfolio companies,” stated Jeff Clark, Managing General Partner of the Aurora Funds.  “Their experience and expertise have helped many of our companies grow.”

Kroeger joined Aurora in September 2003 as an associate, and has worked closely with other members of the investment team to source and evaluate prospective deals.  He has also shared his diverse scientific, medical and business expertise to benefit Aurora’s portfolio companies.  He has recently lead financings at Neotropix, Inc. and HyperBranch Medical Technology, Inc. and currently serves on the board of directors of HyperBranch Medical Technology, Inc. and Regado Biosciences, Inc.

Prior to Aurora, Kroeger trained in general surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School.  He has also earned a B.A. in Biology from Harvard University, an M.D. from Stanford University School of Medicine and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Jackson joined Aurora in May 2004 as a senior associate, and has focused on sourcing new investment opportunities in the healthcare services and medical device industries.  In addition, he has worked closely with Aurora’s current healthcare services portfolio companies.  He currently is working to close several new transactions as a lead investor where he will be joining the board of directors.

Previously, Jackson worked with First Analysis Corporation where he specialized in venture capital investments and public equity research in the healthcare services sector.  He also handled venture capital activities at Compaq Computer Corporation and served as a manager at Accenture.  Jackson earned an MBA with distinction from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, where he was awarded the Siebel Scholarship.

About The Aurora Funds

Founded in 1994, The Aurora Funds is a venture capital firm that provides capital and strategic help to entrepreneurs with early stage life sciences and information technology companies in the Southeastern and mid-Atlantic United States.  The firm has more than $155 million of total capital under management and is currently investing out of its fourth fund of $85 million.   The firm has the capacity to invest between $4 million and $7 million throughout the life cycle of an investment. More information is available at www.aurorafunds.com.

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Contact:
Shawn Ramsey-Kroboth
SRK Communications (for The Aurora Funds)
919-621-0737
shawn@srkcommunications.com

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