Anjarium Raises $61 Million to Develop Next-Generation Non-viral Gene Therapies

Swiss biotech Anjarium Biosciences raised $61 million (CHF55.5M) in a series A financing round to advance development of a new class of non-viral gene therapies to deliver more predictable, enduring, and inclusionary ways to tackle genetic disease throughout a patient’s lifetime. 

Abingworth and Gimv co-led the financing, with significant participation from Omega Funds, Pfizer Ventures, and Surveyor Capital (a Citadel company).

Anjarium’s novel approach aims to leverage breakthrough science and expertise at the interface of genetic medicine, synthetic biology, and nanoparticle engineering to rationally design and produce tissue-targeted gene therapies, optimized to improve patient outcomes in a range of serious genetic diseases.

The company’s versatile platform combines proprietary DNA-based gene vectors, natural and synthetic nanoparticle delivery modalities—including its novel Hybridosome technology—and cost-efficient, scalable manufacturing solutions.

Through this approach Anjarium believes it has the potential to deliver more predictable, lasting, and inclusionary ways to tackle genetic disease throughout a patient’s lifetime by creating medicines with reduced immunogenicity, increased drug payload capacity, enhanced targeted delivery, and individualized multiple dosing, key shortcomings of current viral gene therapy development.

Proceeds from the financing will enable Anjarium to expand its team, advance its platform and progress several therapeutic pipeline programs towards clinical development.

“As the limitations of conventional viral-vector based gene therapies to deliver optimal patient outcomes become increasingly evident, a fully non-viral approach represents an exciting new therapeutic opportunity,” said Joël de Beer, founder and chief scientific officer of Anjarium Biosciences. “Backed by this syndicate of leading investors, the Anjarium team is looking forward to continuing to create and deliver solutions for patients beyond what current gene therapy platforms can address, tackling more diseases, more precisely and in a more personalized way.”

In conjunction with Anjarium’s series A financing, Bali Muralidhar of Abingworth, Bram Vanparys of Gimv, and Dina Chaya of Omega Funds will join the company’s Board of Directors.

Author: Rare Daily Staff