Genenta Science, a Milan, Italy-based clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of hematopoietic stem cell gene therapies for cancer, closed its €13,2M third funding round.
The round, which brought total funding raised to date to €30.2M, was led by Qianzhan Investment Management and Fidim, with participation from Bormioli and Fumagalli families. Both QZ and Fidim will be Observers in Genenta’s Board of Directors. QZ will be represented by Jing “Akira” Liu, MD, in charge of QZ’s biotech venture capital investments, while Fidim will be represented by Lucio Rovati, MD, the CEO and CSO of Rottapharm Biotech.
Co-founded by Pierluigi Paracchi, Ospedale San Raffaele (OSR), prof. Luigi Naldini (Director SR-TIGET, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy), and Bernhard Gentner (Hematologist and Physician-Scientist at OSR and SR-TIGET), Genenta develops an ex-vivo gene transfer strategy into autologous hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) to deliver immunomodulatory molecules directly via tumor-infiltrating monocytes/macrophages (Tie2 Expressing Monocytes – TEMs).
The targeted expression of the immunomodulatory molecule in TEMs is achieved combining a transcriptional and post-transcriptional microRNA-mediated control. Thanks to these mechanisms, TEMs become capable to express the immunomodulatory molecule (Interferon-alpha, “IFN-α”) in the tumor microenvironment. TEMs are endowed with a pro-angiogenic activity and are recruited by developing tumors to sustain their growth.
The company intends to use the funds to advance its two Phase I/II clinical trials, which are currently ongoing in two different indications, early relapse Multiple Myeloma – a hematologic disorder, and newly diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme – a solid tumor.
FinSMEs
11/09/2019