ENTHERA-PHARMACEUTICALS
28.7.2020 10:02:05 CEST | Business Wire | Press release
Enthera Pharmaceuticals (“Enthera”), a biotech company developing disease-modifying biologics to transform the therapeutic paradigm of specific autoimmune conditions by re-establishing stem cell capabilities in a non-traditional way, today announces the completion of a €28 million Series A financing round.
The Series A was co-led by seed investor Sofinnova Partners, a leading European life sciences venture capital firm based in Paris, London and Milan, and incoming investor AbbVie, with further investment from the JDRF T1D Fund (the venture capital fund of JDRF) and several Italian investors including a group coordinated by Banor SIM, a group coordinated by Banca Profilo through Arepo Fiduciaria and Indaco Venture Partners SGR. The €28 million raised is the largest VC-backed Series A funding round for an Italian biotechnology company to date.
The Series A marks AbbVie’s first venture investment into an Italian company. Enthera was also the first European investment of the JDRF T1D fund, who previously invested in the Company during its €4 million seed extension funding round in 2018.
The proceeds from the Series A financing will be used to obtain clinical proof-of-concept through a first-in-human study of Ent001, Enthera’s lead candidate. Ent001 is the only drug in development with the potential to restore the pancreatic beta cell compartment in type 1 diabetes as well as the original intestine structure in inflammatory bowel disease, in order to re-establish organ function. The funds will also be used to further develop Enthera’s pipeline.
Commenting on the successful Series A financing, Giovanni Amabile, CEO of Enthera, said: “Having renowned investors Sofinnova Partners, AbbVie and JDRF T1D Fund choosing to support us on our journey is great validation of our company strategy and scientific method, and gives credit to the innovative science that is currently underway in Italy.
“We have a revolutionary approach that offers a new perspective for intractable diseases such as type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease, and the funds raised will enable us to accelerate our lead program Ent001 to clinical proof-of-concept. Through this and the development of our wider pipeline, we have the opportunity to bring real hope to patients in need and to provide effective and safe treatments.”
Graziano Seghezzi, Managing Partner of Sofinnova Partners, who co-seeded the company, stated:
“Enthera’s Series A financing is a fantastic milestone enabled by the leadership of Giovanni who, since his arrival in the company, has expanded its activities into novel therapeutic areas. This is also an opportunity for us to applaud BiovelocITA’s role in transforming the breakthrough science originating from Paolo Fiorina and his team into a full-fledged enterprise. Enthera is a salient example of what can be achieved when the critical components of a biotech ecosystem are brought together to accelerate innovation in Italy: World-class science, experienced management, and dedicated financial capital.”
Margarita Chavez, Managing Director of AbbVie Ventures and new addition to the Enthera Board of Directors, added: “AbbVie Ventures’ investment in Enthera’s Series A demonstrates our confidence in the team and their unique approach to treating underserved autoimmune disorders. I look forward to working with Giovanni and rest of the team as we drive the Company and its innovation forward.”
Enthera was formed in 2016 on the basis of research by scientific founders Prof. Paolo Fiorina and Dr. Francesca D’Addio. The Company is the first spin-off of the Italian biotech accelerator BiovelocITA, founded by Sofinnova Partners, Silvano Spinelli and Gabriella Camboni, which provided the initial seed fund. A seed extension was financed in 2018 by Sofinnova Partners, JDRF T1D fund and the other existing investors.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
About Enthera
Enthera Srl is a biotech company developing first-in-class biologics to transform the treatment paradigm of specific autoimmune conditions by re-establishing stem cell capabilities in a non-traditional way. The Company’s primary target indications are type 1 diabetes (T1D) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Enthera's pioneering approach capitalizes on the key discovery of the IGFBP3/TMEM219 pathway, which is involved in beta cell and stem cell apoptosis in pancreas and gut, respectively.
The Company is building a pipeline of inhibitory monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and fusion proteins targeting the pathway via multiple angles. Its lead program Ent001 is the only drug in development with the potential to restore the endogenous pancreatic stem cell compartment in T1D as well as the original intestine structure in IBD, in order to re-establish organ function.
Enthera is a private company headquartered in Milan, Italy and founded in 2016 by Prof Paolo Fiorina and Dr Francesca D’Addio at BiovelocITA, an Italian biotech accelerator. The Company is backed by Sofinnova Partners and JDRF T1D fund. Enthera’s discovery engine and assets are protected by a broad portfolio of patents.
For more information, visit https://www.entherapharmaceuticals.com/
Connect with us on LinkedIn .
About Sofinnova Partners
Sofinnova Partners is a leading European venture capital firm specialized in Life Sciences. Based in Paris, France, with offices in London and Milan, the firm brings together a team of 40 professionals from all over Europe, the U.S. and Asia. The firm focuses on paradigm-shifting technologies alongside visionary entrepreneurs. Sofinnova Partners invests across the Life Sciences value chain as a lead or cornerstone investor, from very early-stage opportunities to late-stage/public companies. It has backed nearly 500 companies over more than 48 years, creating market leaders around the globe. Today, Sofinnova Partners has over €2 billion under management.
For more information, please visit: www.sofinnovapartners.com
About AbbVie Ventures
AbbVie Ventures is the corporate venture capital group of AbbVie. We are a strategic investor, investing exclusively in novel, potentially transformational science aligned with AbbVie's core R&D interests. We measure success primarily by the extent to which our investments foster innovation with potential to transform the lives of patients that AbbVie serves. AbbVie Ventures enables its portfolio companies with both funding as well as access to AbbVie's internal network of experts across all phases of drug development, from drug discovery through commercialization.
For more information, please visit www.abbvie.com/ventures
For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com . Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and LinkedIn .
About the JDRF T1D Fund
The JDRF T1D Fund is a venture philanthropy fund accelerating life-changing solutions to cure, prevent and treat type 1 diabetes (T1D) through catalytic equity investments. Through its investments in partnership with private capital, including venture capital, corporations and foundations, the T1D Fund seeks to attract the private investment necessary to advance therapeutics, devices, diagnostics and vaccines into the hands of those living with T1D. The T1D Fund invests in areas strategically aligned with JDRF, the leading global organization funding T1D research, with an exclusive focus on supporting the best commercial opportunities. The T1D Fund reinvests any realized gains into new investments to further its mission.
BiovelocITA
BiovelocITA S.r.l. is the first Italian accelerator dedicated to biotech. It was founded by Silvano Spinelli, Gabriella Camboni and Sofinnova Partners. Thanks to BiovelocITA, entrepreneurs, scientists and investors can work together to accelerate biotech projects with an international scope and reach the “proof of concept” that precedes the clinical phase. Set up to offer innovative solutions to the medical community and to patients, BiovelocITA supports the creation and development of innovative biotech companies in all therapeutic areas.
For more information, see: http://www.biovelocita.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200728005076/en/
Link:
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Grid Dynamics Appoints Industry Veteran Nikita Ivanov as Head of AI26.8.2026 22:05:00 CEST | Press release
Key Takeaways: As Vice President, Head of AI, Nikita Ivanov leads the strategic direction of Grid Dynamics' AI portfolio, including its GAIN platforms, and helps clients convert AI pilots into measurable value in production. Ivanov has over two decades of founding and scaling technology companies as an entrepreneur and technologist, adding commercial and operational depth to Grid Dynamics' executive team. Focused on moving Fortune 1000 clients to AI-native software delivery, Ivanov is advancing Grid Dynamics' AI-SDLC tools that give enterprises a faster, more reliable path to building and running AI systems. Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: GDYN) (“Grid Dynamics”), a premier AI transformation partner for the Fortune 1000, is advancing its AI strategy under the leadership of Nikita Ivanov, Vice President, Head of AI. Ivanov is responsible for leading the transition efforts of Grid Dynamics’ clients toward an AI-native software delivery model, and he oversees all elements of Grid Dy
Arc'teryx Introduces System 0™, a New Framework for the Future of Product Design and Circularity26.8.2026 15:00:00 CEST | Press release
Sperro SV, a multisport mountain-grade hardshell built with circular design principles, available September 4, 2026 Arc'teryx Equipment, the global design company specializing in technical high-performance apparel and equipment, today introduced System 0™, a new framework that reimagines how products can be designed, manufactured, used, repaired, and ultimately regenerated. System 0 represents the next evolution for sustainability in the outdoor industry, as it embeds circular thinking across an entire product lifecycle while maintaining the uncompromising performance standards that define the Arc’teryx brand. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260826686539/en/ Arc’teryx athlete, Craig Murray, wearing the Sperro SV, a multisport mountain-grade hardshell built with circular design principles, available September 4, 2026. The first product being introduced as part of the System 0 platform is the Sperro SV jacket, a
Xsolla Announces Five-Year Partnership With the Global Esports Federation26.8.2026 15:00:00 CEST | Press release
Partnership Represents a Structural Shift in Esports, Placing Xsolla's Infrastructure Behind GEF’s Entire Ecosystem, Spanning Commerce, Payments, Wallet, Loyalty, and Distribution Across Global Esports Games, Global Esports Tour, and 180+ Member Federations Xsolla, a global commerce company, today announced a landmark five-year strategic partnership with the Global Esports Federation (GEF), the world-convening body for esports. As GEF's exclusive partner for commerce, payments, wallet, loyalty, and distribution, Xsolla will power the entire GEF ecosystem, including the flagship Global Esports Games, pro-series Global Esports Tour, global GEFcon, and 180+ Member Federations across five continents. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260826948844/en/ Graphic: Xsolla The announcement comes as GEF marks 100 days to go to the Los Angeles 2026 Global Esports Games (GEGLA26), adding further momentum to the road to Los An
NABEP Appoints Sara Chouraqui as General Counsel26.8.2026 15:00:00 CEST | Press release
Company expands legal team as it prepares for significant growth North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP) has appointed Sara Chouraqui as General Counsel, with Elizabeth Collery and Victoria Jacobson each joining as Deputy General Counsel. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260826168543/en/ Sara Chouraqui joins NABEP as its General Counsel, bringing decades of legal expertise. These additions significantly strengthen NABEP’s senior leadership team and legal expertise as the company improves its operations, increases production and develops new strategic and commercial partnerships. As General Counsel, Chouraqui will lead NABEP’s global legal function and advise the company’s leadership on its legal, regulatory and corporate priorities, including major transactions and partnerships, governance, compliance and the management of legal and regulatory risk across the company’s operations. Her experience navigating
Grafana Labs Crosses 10,000-Customer Milestone as AI Adoption Accelerates Growth Across the Platform26.8.2026 15:00:00 CEST | Press release
Grafana Labs was recently recognized as a Leader in the 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Observability Platforms for the third consecutive year, launched six AI-native products during its inaugural AI Week, and surpassed $600M in Annual Recurring Revenue. Grafana Labs, the company behind the open observability cloud, today announced it has crossed 10,000 customers worldwide and surpassed $600 million in annual recurring revenue, as organizations standardize on open observability for the AI era. Teams need AI to help them understand their own systems faster, especially as complexity and overhead remain the top observability concern cited in Grafana Labs' 2026 Observability Survey – a need reflected by the adoption of Grafana Assistant, Grafana Cloud's context-aware AI agent for exploring and troubleshooting observability data, now used by more than 18,000 organizations. Teams also need observability purpose-built for AI systems themselves: When teams move AI into production, models dri
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom