ViaNautis secures $25m in Series A funding from 4BIO Capital, BGF, and UCB Ventures to advance its nanomedicine platform
The Cambridge-based nanomedicine developer has raised capital to expand its laboratory facilities and accelerate product development for its polyNaut technology.
≈ £20.4M at $1 = £0.8144 on 13 Nov 2023
ViaNautis is a Cambridge-based nanomedicine company that develops advanced polymer platforms for targeted intracellular drug delivery.
ViaNautis has secured $25m in Series A financing to advance its proprietary polyNaut drug delivery technology. The round was led by 4BIO Capital, BGF, and UCB Ventures, with participation from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Eli Lilly and Company, Origin Capital, Meltwind, and O2H.
Formerly known as SomaServe, the Cambridge-based business will direct the capital towards accelerating product development, expanding its scientific and management personnel, and building dedicated laboratory facilities. The company originates from UCL research and focuses on overcoming biological barriers to deliver genetic payloads directly to cell cytoplasm.
The financing enables the team to progress key therapeutic programmes targeting conditions with significant unmet clinical needs, including cystic fibrosis and central nervous system disorders. Co-investors bring a mix of specialist life science expertise to support the ongoing translation of the polyNaut platform into clinical applications.
From the founder
"We are also proud to be working with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on one of our key pipeline programmes, underscoring our commitment to advancing treatments for people with cystic fibrosis and other unmet clinical needs. This fundraise marks a pivotal moment in ViaNautis’s journey and we look forward to advancing the field of gene therapy, while creating substantial value for our shareholders."
Francesca Crawford
CEO at ViaNautis
Investor perspective
"ViaNautis presents an excellent opportunity in the world of genetic therapies by enabling the delivery of cargoes to otherwise inaccessible sites of action in the body. The polyNaut® technology overcomes the limitations of other drug delivery methods and presents a unique pathway to developing a new generation of genetic medicines for patients with few or no other treatment options."
Owen Smith
Partner, 4BIO Capital
Use of funds
- 01Continue product development
- 02Grow the team
- 03Build out infrastructure
Investors
Owen Smith
4BIO Capital
Lucy Edwardes Jones
BGF
Steven Biesmans
UCB Ventures
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Eli Lilly and Company
Origin Capital
Meltwind