AAVantagarde Bio, a Milan, Italy-based clinical-stage, biotechnology company developing two proprietary Adeno-Associated Viral (AAV) vector platforms, raised €61M in Series A funding.
The round was co-led by Atlas Venture and Forbion, with participation from Longwood Fund and founding investor Sofinnova Partners through its Sofinnova Telethon Fund. In connection with the Series A financing, Jason Rhodes from Atlas Venture, Dmitrij Hristodorov from Forbion, and David Steinberg from Longwood Fund, will join the AAVantgarde Board.
Led by CEO Dr. Natalia Misciattelli, AAVantgarde Bio is a clinical stage biotechnology company that has developed two proprietary Adeno-Associated Viral (AAV) vector platforms to address the gene therapy cargo capacity limitations of AAV vectors. The AAVantgarde platforms could be used to deliver large genes to ocular and non-ocular tissues.
The company has two proprietary, AAV-based large gene delivery platforms: one leveraging DNA recombination, named dual hybrid; and one protein trans-splicing, named AAV intein. The company is validating the platforms in two lead programs: Usher Syndrome Type 1 B associated retinitis pigmentosa (Usher1B), using dual hybrid; and Stargardt disease, using AAV intein. This financing will fund completion of a first-in-man proof of concept (POC) study in subjects with Usher1B and further development of AAV intein program and entry into the clinic for Stargardt disease. The company also intends to pursue programs beyond ophthalmology.
FinSMEs
06/06/2023