Second-round funding
Cerenis Therapeutics SA closed a $53.5 million round to support its clinical development programs in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
The financing was led by TVM Capital of Munich and Boston, with OrbiMed of the US. Previous investors Sofinnova Partners of France, HealthCap of Sweden, Alta Partners and EDF Ventures of the US and NIF SMBC Ventures of Japan all followed on.
“We are especially pleased that TVM Capital, a leading life sciences investment firm, has recognized the potential for our research and clinical development programs in HDL [High-density lipoprotein] therapy,” said Jean-Louis Dasseux, president and chief executive officer.
“This funding positions Cerenis to move forward with our pipeline of product candidates in HDL that represent breakthrough advances in cardiovascular disease treatment.”
The financing will be used to advance research and clinical development of products, including Cerenis HDL, a synthetic form of HDL (high-density lipoprotein, also known as “good cholesterol”) that mimics the natural action of HDL, facilitating the removal of excess cholesterol from the body.
Cerenis, which has bases in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Toulouse, France, also has a licensing agreement with the Japanese pharma company Nippon Chemipha, for the development of new-generation PPAR (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor) delta compounds, to raise natural HDL levels.
Research has shown that PPAR delta agonists have the potential to help reduce cholesterol buildup through a natural process known as reverse lipid transport.
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