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EvlaBio raises €21 Million Seed Funding to Develop a Monoclonal Antibody for the Treatment of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in the Setting of Chronic Kidney Disease
PDF herunterladen- EvlaBio secures €21 million Seed Funding to complete preclinical development and progress towards IND-enabling studies.
- The financing round is led by Kurma Partners as well as AdBio Partners, Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, NRW.Venture (NRW.BANK) and HTGF.
- EvlaBio’s lead program consists of a first-in-class therapeutic monoclonal antibody treatment of left ventricular hypertrophy in the setting of chronic kidney disease with the potential to transform outcomes for millions of patients.
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Düsseldorf, Germany and Zurich, Switzerland – July 7th, 2025 – EvlaBio, a life science startup pioneering innovative therapies for the treatment of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) in the setting of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), announced today the successful closing of its seed funding round, one of the largest seed rounds closed in Germany to date. The financing will support the advancement of EvlaBio’s lead program, a first-in-class therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting specifically the FGF23/FGFR4 signaling in the setting of CKD, one of the key drivers for LVH, which can lead to heart failure.
Founded with a mission to address high unmet medical need in the cardiorenal field, EvlaBio is developing a targeted treatment for patients suffering from CKD with limited therapeutic options. The company’s lead asset is a novel monoclonal antibody designed to inhibit the pathological FGF23/FGFR4 cardiac signaling axis — a critical driver of cardiac remodeling in patients with CKD.
„Despite recent advances, the clinical need in LVH in the context of CKD remains significant, with high prevalence and substantial negative impact on patients’ outcomes. Even with improved management of hypertension and anemia, LVH often persists or even progresses in CKD patients,“ said Wenzel von der Heydte, CEO & Co-Founder of EvlaBio. „EvlaBio’s approach is unique in its ability to directly target a key pathway on the cardiomyocyte level. This new therapeutic avenue has the potential to improve lives of millions of patients.“
The program originates from Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC), a company established in 2008 by the technology transfer organization Max Planck Innovation, where it has been developed in collaboration with KHAN Technology Transfer Fund I GmbH & Co KG (KHAN-I).
„Blocking cardiac FGF23/FGFR4 overdrive has the strong potential to become a very promising treatment option for millions of patients facing a high risk of cardiac remodeling and progression to heart failure in CKD,“ said Thomas Kirmeier, COO & Co-Founder of EvlaBio. „Heart failure is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in this patient population and our therapeutic approach offers a promising strategy to modify disease progression at its root.“
The seed round was led by Kurma Partners, AdBio Partners, Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, NRW.Venture (NRW.BANK) and HTGF, and will enable EvlaBio to complete preclinical development and progress towards IND-enabling studies.
Hadrien Bouchez, Partner at Kurma Partners added: „We’re excited to partner with EvlaBio as they advance their groundbreaking approach targeting the FGF23/FGFR4 pathway. The team’s deep scientific expertise and compelling preclinical data position them to address cardiac hypertrophy in CKD patients — a significant unmet medical need affecting millions worldwide. Their differentiated approach offers meaningful advantages over existing therapeutic options. This investment reflects our commitment to supporting innovative companies poised to transform patient outcomes in areas of high unmet need.“
Clément Bertholet, Managing Partner at AdBio Partners added: „This investment in EvlaBio, the first one for AdBio Partners in Germany, is driven by the key features of the product developed by the team to target the well-known FGF23/FGFR4 pathway. We are thrilled to support the company through its development to ultimately bring innovative treatments to patients in need.“
Marek Kozlowski, Senior Investment Director at NRW.BANK, commented: „The FGF23/FGFR4 axis is a very well-validated target pathway, yet its clinical potential remains unrealized. EvlaBio’s research and development program can finally change this. With a substantial seed funding from NRW.Venture and this high-quality syndicate, EvlaBio is well-positioned to advance the development of the lead candidate to the next value inflection point.“
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About EvlaBio
EvlaBio is a life science company focused on developing first-in-class therapeutics for cardiovascular and cardiorenal diseases. Its lead program targets the FGF23/FGFR4 signaling axis, a critical driver of cardiac remodeling in chronic kidney disease. By advancing novel mechanisms grounded in strong translational science, EvlaBio aims to redefine treatment paradigms for CKD patients with high unmet medical need.
About Kurma Partners
Kurma Partners is a key European player in the financing of innovation in Healthcare and Biotechnology, from pre-seed to growth capital, in particular through its funds Kurma Biofund I, II, III, IV, Kurma Growth, Kurma Diagnostics and Kurma Diagnostics 2, as well as the links the company has forged with a network of prestigious research institutes and hospitals. Kurma Partners was founded in July 2009 and is based in Paris and in Munich. Learn more at www.kurmapartners.com
About AdBio Partners
AdBio Partners is a European VC firm based in Paris and Barcelona that invests mainly in therapeutics-oriented projects. AdBio partners’ unique strategy combines early-stage investments in promising companies and strong entrepreneurial support to strengthen the company’s growth. Created in 2016, AdBio Partners has made 28 European investments from two seed-funds. Those companies have raised more than €1Bn additional capital from international syndicates and strategics. Learn more at www.adbio.partners
About Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund
The Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund (BIVF), established in 2010, is dedicated to investing in groundbreaking biotechnology companies that are at the forefront of therapeutic and digital innovations, aiming to advance biomedical research. With a commitment to revolutionizing the standard of care, the BIVF fosters long-term partnerships with scientists and entrepreneurs. The BIVF’s focus is on nurturing disease-modifying therapeutic concepts and facilitating their clinical application. The BIVF prioritizes the translation of first-in-class concepts that address significant medical needs in fields such as oncology, immunology, regenerative medicine, neurodegeneration, infectious diseases, and digital health technologies. These innovative concepts often encompass novel platform technologies designed to tackle targets and diseases that were previously considered untreatable.
With a fund volume of EUR 350 million, the BIVF operates as an evergreen fund, continually reinvesting to fuel its mission. The partners of the BIVF gain from the fund’s deep expertise in drug discovery & development, translational science, and management, along with access to a network of experts within the Boehringer Ingelheim organization. Currently, the BIVF supports a diverse portfolio of over 40 companies, leveraging its extensive experience to drive progress in healthcare.
For additional information, please visit http://boehringer-ingelheim-venture.com
About NRW.Venture (NRW.BANK)
NRW.Venture is the venture capital fund of NRW.BANK, located in Düsseldorf. Together with private-sector investors, NRW.Venture invests up to 15 million euros of equity in young and innovative start-ups over several financing rounds, with NRW.BANK taking a minority stake with a term of three to seven years. But the Bank not only provides capital – an experienced team is the key to joint success. Since the inception of its venture capital fund in 2005, NRW.BANK has invested in over 30 companies within the life sciences and healthcare sectors, spanning biotech, medtech, diagnostics, lab tools, and digital health. The investment professionals at NRW.Venture bring many years of venture capital experience, often enhanced by backgrounds in technology and start-ups, leveraging their expertise and networks to maximise the success potential of start-ups.
About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing start-ups in the fields of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech and Digital Tech. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports start-ups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 start-ups and achieved almost 200 successful exits.
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.
About LDC
Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC) was established in 2008 by the technology transfer organization Max Planck Innovation, as a novel approach to capitalize on the potential of excellent basic research for the discovery of new therapies for diseases with high medical need. LDC takes on promising early-stage projects from academia and transforms them into innovative pharmaceutical leads and antibodies that reach initial proof-of-concept in animals as well as candidate nomination. In close collaboration with high-profile partners from research and industry, LDC is building a strong and growing portfolio of small molecule and antibody leads with exceptional medical and commercial potential.
LDC sustains a long-term partnership with the Max Planck Society and its institutes as well as with KHAN-I and KHAN-II, and has formed alliances with AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck KGaA, Daiichi Sankyo, Qurient, InvIOS, Novo Nordisk, Cumulus Oncology, Nodus Oncology, JT Pharmaceuticals, KinSea Lead Discovery AS, HLB Pharma, the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, e.g. In addition, LDC also works with leading translational drug discovery centers and with various investors to provide its assets for company creation.
Further information at: www.lead-discovery.de
Contact: pr@lead-discovery.de
About KHAN-I
KHAN Technology Transfer Fund I GmbH & Co KG (KHAN-I) is an early-stage life sciences venture fund with € 70 million under management. Their mission is to create value through cooperative drug development partnerships with academic innovators in Europe. KHAN-I received an investment from the European Investment Fund (EIF) with the support of InnovFin Equity, and with the financial backing of the European Union under Horizon 2020 Financial Instruments and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) under the Investment Plan for Europe. KHAN-I is also supported by Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH Max Planck Foundation, and Thyssen’sche Handelsgesellschaft mbH. In addition, KHAN-I sustains a preferred partnership with the Max Planck Society (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft e.V.).
Further information at: www.khanu.de
wenigerCasInvent Pharma Secures Next Investment Round with Strong Support from Existing and Local Investors to Advance CK1 Inhibitor Development for Treatment-Resistant Cancer Patients
PDF herunterladenCasInvent Pharma, founded in 2020 as a spin-off from Masaryk University, focuses on the development of highly selective inhibitors of casein kinase 1 (CK1), aiming to create effective therapies for treatment-resistant cancers for advanced cancer patients. Now, the biotech startup has successfully closed a new investment round, with strong support from both existing and new investors – many of whom come from the South Moravian region in the Czech Republic.
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New investors include JIC Ventures, independent investors from the Garage Angels network, and Dynumerics a.s., together contributing 50% of the total investment. Their involvement highlights the growing support of high-tech innovations in the Brno region.
The remaining investment was backed by longstanding investors including KHAN-I, i&i Prague, and Holeček Family Foundation.
“This investment round is a strong signal that innovation in oncology is gaining meaningful traction, not only globally, but also locally in the Czech Republic. We’re proud to have earned the trust of experienced investors from the South Moravian region who share our vision of targeted, next-generation therapies for hard-to-treat cancers,” said Alexander Scheer, CEO of CasInvent Pharma. “With their support, we are moving closer to translating our scientific discoveries to the clinic.”
“Our decision to invest was driven by CasInvent’s clear scientific focus, promising data, and experienced leadership. We see enormous potential in the targeted modulation of CK1 enzymes, and we believe the team has what it takes to make a meaningful difference in cancer therapy,” commented Miloš Dendis, CEO of Dendis Capital and member of the Garage Angels investor group.
“Casinvent is a great example of know-how being transferred from a scientific environment into business. The JIC innovation agency has supported this process for a long time, both through targeted programs and financially,“ adds Radim Kocourek on behalf of JIC Ventures.
“At KHAN-I, we are committed to backing visionary science with the potential to transform lives. Our continued investment in CasInvent Pharma over the past three years reflects our strong belief in their pioneering approach to kinase inhibitors and targeted cancer therapies,” added Michael Krebs, Managing Director at KHAN-I.
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About CasInvent Pharma
CasInvent Pharma is a drug discovery spin-off company established in 2020 by Masaryk University (MU) and Bio-Innovation Centre i&i Prague, s.r.o. (Ltd). The mission of the company is to develop new therapeutic options for the treatment of resistant tumors. The CasInvent platform is based on the use of proprietary, best-in-class highly selective inhibitors of enzymes belonging to the casein kinase 1 (CK1) family that are responsible for the regulation of different cellular mechanisms leading to resistance to targeted therapies.
Further information available at: www.casinvent.com
About KHAN-I
KHAN Technology Transfer Fund I GmbH & Co KG (KHAN-I) is an early-stage life sciences venture fund with € 70 million under management. Their mission is to create value through cooperative drug development partnerships with academic innovators in Europe. KHAN-I focuses on first-in-class therapies for attractive markets with a high unmet medical need. The fund is managed by Khanu Management GmbH, an experienced team of professionals with proven track records in early-stage drug development and academic spin-offs as well as pharma licensing and partnering. KHAN-I received an investment from the European Investment Fund (EIF) with the support of InnovFin Equity, and with the financial backing of the European Union under Horizon 2020 Financial Instruments and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) under the Investment Plan for Europe.
KHAN-I is also supported by Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (AWS with funds provided by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs and the Austrian Foundation for Research, Technology, and Development), Max Planck Foundation, and Thyssen’sche Handelsgesellschaft mbH. In addition, KHAN-I sustains a preferred partnership with the Max Planck Society (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft e.V.).
Further information available at: www.khanu.de
About i&i Prague
i&i Prague is a biotech incubator and venture builder supporting the creation of startups and spin-offs. The incubator is dedicated to helping scientists transform their groundbreaking discoveries into market-ready solutions. Whether the research focuses on Drug Discovery, Diagnostics, MedTech, or other Life Science fields, i&i Prague specializes in identifying and supporting promising innovations. The incubator offers step-by-step guidance to help with the commercialization of innovations, from shaping the idea into a business concept to connecting inventors with top-tier experts in science, law, and industry.
Further information available at: www.iniprague.com
About the Holeček Family Foundation
The Holeček Foundation supports individuals and institutions with the vision and expertise to positively impact society. Its main areas of focus are education, healthcare, and scientific research — fields seen as essential to societal development.
The Foundation primarily funds universities, hospitals, and research organizations in the Czech Republic, helping them reach their full potential despite financial limitations. It also backs innovative projects with the potential to drive meaningful change.
Through its open and flexible approach to funding, the Foundation aims to inspire others and promote a culture of giving back.
Further information available at: www.holecekfoundation.cz
About Garage Angels
Garage Angels is an informal group of about 15 independent individual investors from South Moravian region focusing on early-stage angel investments in Czech startups. They provide capital, mentorship, and emphasize collaboration and co-investing to support break-through innovations. Key members include Jiří Hlavenka, an active investor in over 20 startups and Miloš Dendis, a biotech specialist founding GeneProof.
Further information available at: www.g-angels.cz
About JIC Ventures
JIC Ventures is an investment fund established in 2015 by the South Moravian Innovation Centre (JIC) to support visionary founders at the pre-seed and seed stages. Led by Managing Director Radim Kocourek bringing extensive experience working with startups, JIC Ventures invests across sectors including biotech, IT, and smart technologies.
Further information available at: www.jic.cz
About Dynumerics
The Czech company Dynumerics supports Czech early-stage tech and biotech startups. The portfolio includes CAREBOT developing AI-powered diagnostic tools for healthcare professionals.
New agent inhibits Staphylococcus aureus toxin – hope for pneumonia patients
PDF herunterladenHelmholtz Centre for Infection Research develops innovative class of agents to inhibit hospital germs
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An international research group led by the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) has discovered a promising new drug candidate against severe lung infections caused by the hospital germ Staphylococcus aureus. The study, which has just been published in Cell Host & Microbe, describes for the first time how small molecules from the quinoxalinedione class specifically block the bacterial toxin α-hemolysin – a key trigger of tissue damage and inflammation.
Pneumonia caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most dangerous infections that can occur in hospital. Particularly worrying are multi-resistant strains, against which many antibiotics are no longer effective. These pathogens are widespread worldwide and pose a major challenge even for modern healthcare systems. Despite intensive therapy, mortality among affected patients is over 20 percent.
“Even with effective antibiotics, infections with Staphylococcus aureus are often difficult to treat,” says Prof. Mark Brönstrup, senior author of the study and head of the “Chemical Biology” department at the HZI. “Our novel strategy therefore does not attack the bacterium itself, but specifically neutralizes a toxin it produces. This opens up a new therapeutic perspective – especially for critically ill people at high risk.”
The new research approach is aimed at the targeted inhibition of the key virulence factor α-hemolysin. Hemolysin is a protein that forms pores in cell membranes in the lungs, leading to the destruction of lung tissue and immune cells, inflammation and ultimately to a worsening of the disease. The researchers developed a miniaturized test system that allowed them to screen over 180,000 compounds for their ability to block the effect of α-hemolysin. Drug candidates from the quinoxalinedione class, in particular the compound H052, proved to be highly effective, both in cell culture and in animal models.
“Our goal was to develop a small molecule that neutralizes the toxin before it causes damage – and that is exactly what the quinoxalindiones do,” says Dr. Aditya Shekhar, first author of the study. ”It was particularly impressive that we were not only able to protect cells, but also significantly improve survival in infected mice.”
In the mouse model, the active substance was able to increase the survival rate in the case of an acute lung infection with the highly virulent S. aureus USA300 strain, both when administered preventively or therapeutically. At the same time, inflammatory markers and the bacterial load in the lungs of immunocompetent mice were reduced. The combination of H052 with the antibiotic linezolid was also effective.
New approaches in the fight against antibiotic resistance
The concept of so-called “pathoblockers”, i.e. agents that target bacterial virulence mechanisms rather than the bacterium itself, is considered a promising approach. Since no selective pressure is exerted on the bacterium, the risk of development of resistance is significantly lower.
“Our results show that even large bacterial toxins can be specifically inhibited by small molecules – this opens doors for a completely new class of anti-infectives,” adds Shekhar. Thanks to good manufacturing options and tolerability, the drug candidate H052 could be used in particular as an infusion preparation in hospitals – for example to prevent severe pneumonia in high-risk patients.
The research was carried out mainly at the HZI in Braunschweig and as part of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) in close partnership with the Lead Discovery Center (LDC) in Dortmund. The research team received milestone-dependent funding of 4.9 million US dollars to date from the non-profit organization Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X); CARB-X has indicated that further funding may be provided through the end of Phase 1 of the clinical trial based on project progress.
Background: Responsible approach to animal testing
The animal experiments with mice used in this study were carried out in strict compliance with the applicable legal requirements and ethical standards. The aim was to generate meaningful data with as few animals as possible that could contribute to the development of new therapeutic options for seriously ill patients. The insights gained represent an important step towards developing animal-free models and clinical applications in the long term.
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About CARB-X:
The “Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator” (CARB-X) is a global, non-profit funding initiative of Boston University that aims to accelerate the development of innovative antibiotics and develop novel therapeutics, vaccines and diagnostics to combat drug-resistant bacterial infections. It supports companies and research institutions that are developing such products in the early phases up to clinical phase I. CARB-X focuses on the dangerous bacteria listed in the priority lists of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Germany, represented by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), has been funding CARB-X since the beginning of 2019 and will continue to support the partnership with a further 40 million euros in the second funding phase starting in 2023. In total, CARB-X has invested approximately 400 million US dollars in 92 projects worldwide since its inception, supporting the largest and most innovative pipeline of preclinical and early-stage products against antibiotic-resistant infections in the world. The work of CARB-X and the portfolio companies it supports is supported by local accelerators. The German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and its partners, the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI), have established themselves as a CARB-X accelerator within the CARB-X Global Accelerator Network (CARB-X GAN).
The research described in this press release is supported by ASPR/BARDA Cooperative Agreement No. IDSEP160030 and by funding from the Wellcome Trust, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and the UK Global Antimicrobial Resistance Innovation Fund (GAMRIF), managed by CARB-X. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the official views of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, any other funding body or CARB-X.
Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research:
Scientists at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig and its other sites in Germany are engaged in the study of bacterial and viral infections and the body’s defence mechanisms. They have a profound expertise in natural compound research and its exploitation as a valuable source for novel anti-infectives. As member of the Helmholtz Association and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) the HZI performs translational research laying the ground for the development of new treatments and vaccines against infectious diseases.
http://www.helmholtz-hzi.de/en
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Contact:
Susanne Thiele, Spokesperson
susanne.thiele@helmholtz-hzi.de
Dr Andreas Fischer, Editor
andreas.fischer@helmholtz-hzi.de
Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research
Press and Communications
Inhoffenstr. 7
D-38124 Braunschweig
Germany
Phone: +49 531 6181-1400; -1405
First closing of KHAN Technology Transfer Fund II GmbH & Co KG "KHAN-II"
PDF herunterladenDortmund, Munich, Mülheim a.d. Ruhr/Germany, Luxembourg/Luxembourg, Princeton/USA, February 5th, 2025 – Khanu Fondsverwaltung GmbH (Khanu), a drug discovery focused fund management team, announces the first closing in fundraising for KHAN Technology Transfer Fund II GmbH & Co KG (KHAN-II), the follower fund of KHAN-I (vintage year 2019).
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As limited partners of KHAN-II, the European Investment Fund (EIF, Luxembourg), Akros Pharma Inc. (USA), the Max Planck Foundation (Germany), the Thyssen’sche Handelsgesellschaft (Germany), and KHAN-II Vermögensverwaltung committed in a first closing to invest a total of EUR 51 million for early-stage drug discovery investments. Khanu was established as general partner. An additional closing is planned this year to target a total of EUR 100 million.
Assets will be sourced predominantly from academia in Germany (such as Max Planck Institutes, among others) and Europe, focusing on innovative therapeutic opportunities in indications with high unmet medical need. Project investments will be made and executed at the Lead Discovery Center GmbH, Dortmund (LDC), a professional drug discovery and translational research incubator with a proven track record (www.lead-discovery.de). KHAN-II will also invest opportunistically into early-stage companies and spin-offs, providing structuring of the founding process if needed.
Very significantly – and building on the preferred partnership with the Max Planck Society (MPG) , Germany’s largest basic research organisation – KHAN-II has signed a co-investment agreement with MPG, adding EUR 18 million of co-funding for drug discovery projects originating from the world-class biomedical research of the Max Planck Institutes.
“Based on the first closing, we are now inviting other investors to meet KHAN-II’s target of EUR 100 million, for which an additional public commitment is already in place, to be matched with private capital. With their commitments, our trusted KHAN-II limited partners continuously contribute to the high-quality and successful performance of our powerful translational ecosystem. All of these financial efforts will accelerate our drug discovery and development ambitions to provide future medications for patients in need,” states Bert Klebl, Managing Director of Khanu and LDC. “We are highly motivated and excited that KHAN-II will enable the transfer of further promising early-stage drug discovery assets into translation, thereby creating new treatment options for patients,” adds Michael Hamacher, also Managing Director of Khanu and LDC.
“We are delighted to see the launch of KHAN-II, which builds upon the solid foundation laid by KHAN-I, and further strengthens the commitment to advancing early-stage drug discovery for the benefit of society and patients. This new fund will drive cutting-edge projects, particularly from the world-class research of the Max Planck Institutes, to bring transformative innovations closer to clinical application,” says Bram Wijlands, Managing Director of Max Planck Innovation, the technology transfer organization of the MPG.
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Contact: pr@lead-discovery.de (For KHAN-II)
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About KHAN Technology Transfer Fund II (KHAN-II) and Khanu Fondsverwaltung GmbH (Khanu)
KHAN Technology Transfer Fund II (KHAN-II) is an early-stage life sciences venture fund. Our mission is to create value through cooperative drug development partnerships with academic innovators in Europe. KHAN-II focuses on first-in-class therapies for attractive markets with a high unmet medical need. KHAN-II has unique access to cutting-edge scientific research at Max Planck and leading European academia. KHAN-II is managed by Khanu Fondsverwaltung GmbH, a world class drug discovery and fund team, having access to the state-of-the-art drug discovery incubator Lead Discovery Center GmbH, achieving an exceptional low attrition rate and effective investments.
For more information, please contact info@khanu.de
About the European Investment Fund (EIF)
The fund is supported by an investment from the EIF, with the support of:
- InvestEU Equity, with the financial backing of the European Union. InvestEU Fund supports private and public investments in four policy areas that represent important priorities for the Union and bring high EU added value: sustainable infrastructure; research, innovation and digitisation; small and medium-sized businesses; and social investment and skills.
- The ERP-EIF Facility, with the financial backing of the German Federal Government. The ERP-EIF Facility is a partnership between the German Federal Government and the EIF, managed by the EIF, providing venture and growth capital financing with a focus on high-tech early- and later-stage companies in Germany.
Further information available at:
About Max Planck Foundation
The Max Planck Foundation is a private, independent and non-profit organization with the sole purpose of providing funds for excellent, innovative and forward-looking research projects of the Max Planck Society. As additional support for scientists from the Max Planck Society the Foundation also facilitates the transfer from knowledge to application. The foundation was established in 2006 and the assets of the foundation are currently around EUR 725 million.
Further information available at: www.maxplanckfoundation.org
About Akros Pharma Inc.
Akros Pharma Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of JT America, which is, in turn, a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan Tobacco Inc., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Akros Pharma Inc. is recognized in the pharmaceutical industry for its innovative drug discovery and development. The company is committed to developing new pharmaceutical products for the U.S. and global markets.
Further information available at: www.akrospharma.com
About Thyssen’sche Handelsgesellschaft
Thyssen’sche Handelsgesellschaft (THG) is a German single-family office and a highly renowned investor with roots in the Julius Thyssen family. THG is located in Muelheim an der Ruhr, follows a long-term investment approach and owns a highly diversified set of portfolio companies in different industry segments.
About Lead Discovery Center
Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC) was established in 2008 by the technology transfer organization Max Planck Innovation, as a novel approach to capitalize on the potential of excellent basic research for the discovery of new therapies for diseases with high medical need. LDC takes on promising early-stage projects from academia and transforms them into innovative pharmaceutical leads and antibodies that reach initial proof-of-concept in animals as well as candidate nomination. In close collaboration with high-profile partners from research and industry, LDC is building a strong and growing portfolio of small molecule and antibody leads with exceptional medical and commercial potential.
LDC sustains a long-term partnership with the Max Planck Society as well as with the KHAN Technology Transfer Funds I + II. It has formed alliances with AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck KGaA, Qurient, invIOS, Cumulus Oncology, Nodus Oncology, JT Pharmaceuticals, KinSea Lead Discovery AS, HLB Life Science, the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, etc. In addition, LDC also works with leading translational drug discovery centres and with various investors to provide its assets for company creation.
Further information available at: www.lead-discovery.de
About Max Planck Innovation
Max Planck Innovation (MI) is responsible for the technology transfer of the Max Planck Society and, as such, the link between industry and basic research. With an interdisciplinary team, MI advises and supports scientists at Max Planck Institutes in evaluating their inventions, filing patents and founding companies. MI offers industry unique access to the innovations of the Max Planck Institutes. Thus, MI performs an important task: the transfer of basic research results into products that contribute to economic and social progress.
Further information available at: www.max-planck-innovation.com
