Anjarium Biosciences AG (“Anjarium”), a biotech company focused on creating and delivering a new class of non-viral gene therapies today announced the closing of a CHF55.5M ($61M) Series A financing. The round was co-led by Gimv and Abingworth, with significant participation from Omega Funds, Pfizer Ventures and Surveyor (a Citadel company).

Anjarium’s innovative approach leverages 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 unique platform combines proprietary DNA-based gene vectors, natural and synthetic nanoparticle delivery modalities, including its novel Hybridosome™ technology and cost efficient as well as scalable manufacturing solutions.

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

The proceeds from the Series A financing will enable Anjarium to expand its team, develop its ground-breaking platform as well as push several therapeutic pipeline programs towards clinic.

“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 CSO of Anjarium Biosciences. “Backed by this syndicate of leading investors, the Anjarium team is looking forward to continue to create and deliver solutions for patients beyond what current gene therapy platforms can address, tackling more diseases, more precisely and more personalized.

Bram Vanparys, Partner at Gimv: “We are very excited to support Anjarium as its groundbreaking science, platform and manufacturing setup holds very high potential to change the way we approach gene therapy today – with the possibility to deliver products with much better outcomes and durability.”

Thomas Harth, Senior Associate at Gimv, added: “We have been on the lookout for a novel gene therapy approach that could offer individualized multiple dosing in a safe, targeted and efficient manner and believe to have found this in Anjarium’ s innovating platform approach. As part of Gimv’ s strategy to build leading life science companies, we are very thrilled to support the Anjarium team to the next stage of development.”

For further information, we refer to the companies press release in the attachment.