Business Wire

Sofinnova Partners Announces Three New Investments From Its Fund Dedicated to Italian Scientific Research

Share

Sofinnova Partners, a leading European life sciences venture capital firm based in Paris, London and Milan, announced today three new investments from the Sofinnova Telethon Fund, its early-stage fund dedicated to investments in rare, genetic diseases. The startups, AAVantgarde Bio, Alia Therapeutics, and Borea Therapeutics, are developing promising new therapies for rare, genetic diseases.

Graziano Seghezzi, Managing Partner at Sofinnova Partners, commented: “These investments mark an important step in our mission to support the excellent scientific research coming out of Italian academic and research centers. They also highlight the exceptional flow of new investment opportunities in Italian biotech, and the important role that venture capital plays in enabling ground-breaking treatments to reach patients suffering from rare, genetic diseases who today have very few therapeutic options.”

The Sofinnova Telethon Fund is the largest fund entirely dedicated to biotechnology in Italy. The team is led by technology transfer specialists Lucia Faccio and Paola Pozzi, Partners at Sofinnova Partners, who are based in the firm’s Milan office.

The three new seed investments, totaling €6M, align with the fund’s investment strategy to seek out and support the best Italian science and the most promising entrepreneurs to develop world-class companies in the field of rare, genetic diseases.

AAVantgarde Bio, based in Milan, is developing gene therapies for inherited retinal disorders. The founder, Professor Alberto Auricchio, is a highly recognized scientist and a pioneer in the field of gene therapy. The company’s technology builds on existing AAV, or adeno-associated virus-based platforms, which are the main viral vector technology used in gene therapy applications. Existing AAV-based platforms have been limited by capacity, and AAVantgarde Bio responds to this challenge by enabling delivery of large genes to tissue and cells in vivo. The company is a spin-off of TIGEM, an international research institute based in Naples that is owned and managed by the Telethon Foundation.

Alia Therapeutics, based in Trento, is developing next generation CRISPR-based medicine for safer on-target in vivo gene editing approaches to the treatment of retinal degeneration. Alia is a spin-off of the University of Trento and was accelerated at BiovelocITA, Italy’s first biotechnology accelerator co-founded in 2015 by Sofinnova Partners and two serial entrepreneurs, Silvano Spinelli and Gabriella Camboni. It is the second company to emerge from the accelerator, following the success of Enthera Pharmaceuticals, another Italian startup that is part of Sofinnova Partners’ portfolio. This round of financing also included participation from BiovelocITA, Indaco Venture Partners, and a group of Italian investors brought together by Banor SIM and Banca Profilo.

Ms. Pozzi, Partner at Sofinnova Partners, board member of AAVantgarde Bio and an investment partner in Alia Therapeutics, commented: “We are delighted to support these innovative biotech startups as they advance promising programs towards preclinical and clinical development. Both companies have highly qualified scientific teams with globally recognized expertise in the field of gene therapy and gene editing. We are confident in the potential of these companies to tackle the limitations of existing therapies and develop treatments to diseases that do not have adequate solutions today.”

Borea Therapeutics, based in Milan, is advancing a new generation of gene therapies that would enable targeting of specific tissues and cells. The company’s innovative technology could enable viral vectors to reach areas like the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS), thus opening the door to new therapeutic options. Borea Therapeutics was co-founded by Professor Paul Heppenstall and the European Molecular Biology Lab (EMBL), an intergovernmental research organization with six research sites throughout Europe, including one in Rome. The company’s research activities are performed in collaboration with Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), a scientific center of excellence in Trieste.

Ms. Faccio, Partner at Sofinnova Partners and a board member of Borea Therapeutics, commented: “One of the major limitations of gene therapy is the difficulty of selectively targeting specific cells or tissues. Borea Therapeutics’ technology has the potential to pinpoint specific tissues and cells, which would enable the use of lower doses, making treatment safer and more effective for patients. This could be the next breakthrough in gene therapy.”

About Sofinnova Partners

Sofinnova Partners is a leading European venture capital firm in life sciences, specializing in healthcare and sustainability. Based in Paris, London and Milan, the firm brings together a team of professionals from all over the world with strong scientific, medical and business expertise. Sofinnova Partners is a hands-on company builder across the entire value chain of life sciences investments, from seed to later-stage. The firm actively partners with ambitious entrepreneurs as a lead or cornerstone investor to develop transformative innovations that have the potential to positively impact our collective future.

Founded in 1972, Sofinnova Partners is a deeply-established venture capital firm in Europe, with 50 years of experience backing over 500 companies and creating market leaders around the globe. Today, Sofinnova Partners has over €2 billion under management. For more information, please visit: www.sofinnovapartners.com

To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.

Contact information

Bommy Lee
Head of Communications, Sofinnova Partners
blee@sofinnovapartners.com
+33 (0) 6 47 71 38 11

North America
RooneyPartners LLC
Kate Barrette
kbarrette@rooneypartners.com
+1 212 223 0561

France
StrategiesImage
Anne Rein
anne.rein@strategiesimage.com
+33 (0) 6 03 35 92 05

Italy
Havas PR Milan
Rafaella Casula rafaella.casula@havaspr.com
+39 (0) 345 3780834

About Business Wire

For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.

Subscribe to releases from Business Wire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Business Wire

Everen Specialty Appoints Carla Greaves Chief Underwriting Officer25.4.2025 20:00:00 EEST | Press release

Everen Specialty, a Bermuda-based (re)insurer for energy markets worldwide, today announced the appointment of Carla Greaves as its new Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250425273777/en/ Carla Greaves Ms. Greaves will join the Executive Leadership Team of the Everen Group, based in the Bermuda office, later this year. She succeeds Jane Peterson, Interim CUO, who will continue in a consultancy capacity to facilitate the transition. With more than 30 years of underwriting and leadership experience in the (re)insurance industry, Ms. Greaves brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of success in the Casualty market where she is recognized for building high-performing teams, driving profitable growth, and successfully navigating complex market environments. Prior to joining Everen Specialty, Ms. Greaves held increasingly senior leadership positions, most recently servin

Incyte to Highlight Early-Stage Oncology Data at American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 202525.4.2025 15:00:00 EEST | Press release

Incyte (Nasdaq:INCY) today announced that the Company will present new early-stage data from its oncology portfolio at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2025 in Chicago, IL, from April 25–30. “At AACR we will be presenting data from early-stage programs across our oncology portfolio, including for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms, ovarian cancer and other solid tumors,” said Pablo J. Cagnoni, M.D., President and Head of Research and Development, Incyte. “These data will guide our approach as we advance our pipeline and seek to transform the treatment landscape for patients with cancer and myeloproliferative neoplasms.” Abstracts accepted for presentation at AACR include: Mini Symposium INCB177054 INCB177054: A Novel, Potent, Orally Bioavailable DGKα/ζ Dual Inhibitor Enhances T-Cell Function and Demonstrates Potent Antitumor Activity (Session Title: Novel Antitumor Agents. April 28, 4:50 p.m. – 5:05 p.m. ET (3:50 p.m. – 4:05 p.m. CT). Abstract #

SLB Announces First-Quarter 2025 Results; Remains Committed to Return a Minimum of $4 Billion to Shareholders in 202525.4.2025 13:50:00 EEST | Press release

SLB (NYSE: SLB) today announced results for the first-quarter 2025. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250423635499/en/ The exterior of the SLB headquarters in Houston, Texas. First-Quarter Results (Stated in millions, except per share amounts) Three Months EndedChange Mar. 31, 2025 Dec. 31, 2024 Mar. 31, 2024 Sequential Year-on-year Revenue $8,490 $9,284 $8,707 -9% -3% Income before taxes - GAAP basis $1,063 $1,387 $1,357 -23% -22% Income before taxes margin - GAAP basis 12.5% 14.9% 15.6% -241 bps -306 bps Net income attributable to SLB - GAAP basis $797 $1,095 $1,068 -27% -25% Diluted EPS - GAAP basis $0.58 $0.77 $0.74 -25% -22% Adjusted EBITDA* $2,020 $2,382 $2,057 -15% -2% Adjusted EBITDA margin* 23.8% 25.7% 23.6% -186 bps 18 bps Pretax segment operating income* $1,556 $1,918 $1,649 -19% -6% Pretax segment operating margin* 18.3% 20.7% 18.9% -232 bps -60 bps Net income attributable to SLB, excluding charges &

Corona, The World’s Most Valuable Beer Brand 1 , Announces Its 100-Year Anniversary with Global Celebration25.4.2025 11:00:00 EEST | Press release

Today, Corona proudly celebrates its 100-year anniversary, a remarkable milestone for the iconic brand that has been synonymous with the beach and enjoyed by consumers worldwide for the past century. Since 1925, Corona has cultivated a deep association with the beach; fully embodying a lifestyle connected to nature and relaxation. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250425804516/en/ Corona 100 This Is Living Since 1925 In honor of the occasion, Corona invites everyone to live their “beach side” – a.k.a. their best side – at top-tier beach locations across the globe. The Corona 100 platform includes a film highlighting 100 years of beach culture, a definitive list of the top 100 beaches in the world to visit, and a signed multi-year sponsorship of a renowned concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro — all offering people across the globe opportunities to connect with their beach side. “For 100 years, Corona has

Ant Group Unveils New Recruitment Initiative for Top AI Talents, Ramping Up AI Innovation Efforts25.4.2025 10:28:00 EEST | Press release

Ant Group today unveiled Plan A, a new recruitment initiative to attract top artificial intelligence researchers, reinforcing its commitment to accelerating AI research and development under the “AI First” corporate strategy. Operating within the framework of Ant Star—Ant Group’s year-round campus recruitment program—Plan A specifically targets AI talents who are ambitious, adaptable, altruistic, and analytical. Outstanding graduates from universities worldwide with STEM majors are encouraged to apply for Plan A. Relevant fields include computer science, software engineering, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, information and telecommunication engineering, mathematics, statistics, and other emerging interdisciplinary areas. To better foster the development of technological innovators in this new AI era, Plan A offers candidates comprehensive support and resources, including unrestricted access to AI hardware and tailored career paths that allow for significant research freedom. Ad

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye