Description Essex Woodlands Health Ventures places and manages venture capital investments in development-stage health care companies around the world. It has participated in the founding or developing of more than 100 companies in sectors including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, and health services. Portfolio holdings include cardiovascular device maker Abiomed, cancer-focused pharmaceutical firm EUSA Pharma, and biotechnology company Elusys Therapeutics. Essex also invests in late-state health care companies. The firm has raised eight funds and has some $2.5 billion under management. Founded in Chicago in 1985, Essex Woodlands now operates from offices in Palo Alto, Houston, New York, and London.