Aptadir raises €40M seed to reverse silenced genes
What's the deal? Aptadir TherapeuticsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Milan-based biotech, has closed a €40 million ($45 million) seed round led by 4BIO CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. The company is developing RNA inhibitor-based therapeutics for intractable genetic conditions.
Where's the money going? Funds will advance Aptadir's pipeline of RNA therapeutics, led by CAP1-FMR1 for Fragile X Syndrome. Its molecules, called DNMTs Interacting RNAs (DiRs), target genes silenced in cancer and genetic disorders. By blocking aberrant DNA methylation at a single gene, the technology aims to reactivate gene expression and restore normal function.
Who's backing it? Beyond 4BIO Capital, the round drew EXTEND — Italy's National Technology Transfer Hub, launched by CDP Venture Capital SGRDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and jointly funded by Angelini VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and Evotec SE — plus CDP Venture Capital, Indaco Venture PartnersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, XGEN VentureDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, CE-VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Kerna VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Italian Angels for BiotechDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and Club degli InvestitoriDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
The science: Aptadir's technology stems from a group of scientists at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the Italian Research National Council, and the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore. The company says it has demonstrated the gene-reactivation effect in patient-derived disease models.
Why it matters: "Finding truly innovative new science with such potential is a rare event," said Dima Kuzmin, managing partner at 4BIO Capital, which called the modality one that "can give rise to multiple therapeutics addressing previously entirely undruggable disease mechanisms."
The signal: The size stands out. At €40 million, this ranks among the largest seed rounds ever raised by an Italian health startup — top 1% across a sample of 266 comparable deals. It reflects investor willingness to write big early cheques for platform biotech built on academic research.
Read more: benzinga.com
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