Heidelberg, Germany – July 26, 2023 – AaviGen GmbH, a preclinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development of curative gene therapies for cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary diseases, today announced the completion of its 17M € Series B financing round. Building on AaviGen’s proprietary portfolio of engineered cardiac-specific adeno-associated viral (AAV) capsids, the funding will enable the expansion of its preclinical programs and accelerate its lead gene therapy medicinal product (GTMP) for chronic heart failure towards the clinic. DH-LT Investments GmbH, an investment company led by Dietmar Hopp, commits the financing for the Series B to expand its existing shareholding in AaviGen.
Although current AAV-based gene therapy approaches have shown efficacy in several rare diseases, previous gene medicine developments directed against heart failure were hindered by imprecise targeting and the inability to transduce the heart effectively. AaviGen’s advanced AAV engineering platform is designed to develop differentiated AAV capsids optimized to target the diseased cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary system and to limit transduction of tissues and cell types that are not relevant to the target disease. In executing its lead GTMP program, AaviGen builds on the expertise and track record of its founders and leadership team as well as the experience and commitment of its investor: “Despite the steadily growing prevalence of heart failure, which affects more than 26 million people worldwide, there are essentially no curative therapies available targeting the underlying molecular causes. AaviGen’s therapeutic pipeline aspires to address this critical unmet need. Our highly innovative cardiac-targeted vector generation delivers therapeutic genes against the molecular and genetic foundation of acquired and hereditary heart failure with unprecedented safety and efficacy via a single intravenous injection”, commented Prof. Patrick Most, co-founder, CEO and Managing Director of AaviGen. “We are convinced that AaviGen’s innovative approach to delivering gene medicines to diseased tissues can become a game changer for the gene therapy field. Therefore, we are excited to continue supporting AaviGen in developing its therapeutic candidate for heart failure towards the clinic”, said Dietmar Hopp.
About AaviGen
AaviGen was founded in 2019 on the understanding that successful gene therapy requires optimized delivery of therapeutic targets to the diseased heart. AaviGen’s scientific approach is documented in numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications and validated by its founders’ track record in scientific innovations for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac diseases, including gene therapy medicinal products. For more information, please see: www.aavigen.com
AaviGen Investor and Media Contact
Prof. Dr. Marc Lerchenmüller, Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director AaviGen, Heidelberg, Germany
T: +49 6221 568900
M: +49 151 51646589
marc.lerchenmueller@aavigen.com