AaviGen raises 5 million € in first financing round.
Heidelberg, Germany - December 22, 2020 – AaviGen GmbH, a preclinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development of curative gene therapies for cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary diseases, today announced the completion of its initiating 5 million € first financing round. The fundraising adds DH-LT Investments GmbH, an
investment company owned and led by SAP co-founder Dietmar Hopp, to AaviGen’s shareholders. The proceeds of the financing will enable the development of precision gene therapies for heart failure, a highly prevalent disease affecting 26 million people worldwide.
AaviGen was advised by Mayer Brown, under the lead of Dr. Jan Streer, on the legal aspects
of the fundraising.
AaviGen’s lead program employs heart-specific recombinant adeno-associated viruses to
bring therapeutic genes with unprecedented ease, safety, precision, and personalization to
the diseased heart via a single intravenous injection. In executing its program, AaviGen builds on the expertise and track record of its founders and leadership team as well as the experience and commitment of its investor: “Despite the steadily growing prevalence of heart failure, there are essentially no curative therapies available targeting the molecular causes of the disease. AaviGen aspires to address this critical unmet need with a highly innovative vector engineering technology and gene therapy platform. AaviGen’s new program builds on our experience gained in our late-stage preclinical biotechnology company InoCard”, commented Prof. Patrick Most, co-founder, CEO and Managing Director of AaviGen. “The AaviGen team has proven expertise in advancing scientific innovations in healthcare. I am excited to support AaviGen in launching its development program”, said Dietmar Hopp.
About AaviGen
AaviGen was founded in 2019 on the understanding that successful gene therapy requires
optimized delivery of therapeutic targets to the diseased heart. AaviGen’s scientific approach
is documented in numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications and validated by its
founders’ track record in scientific innovations for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac
diseases, including gene therapy medicinal products. For more information, please see: