The Venture Codex

Participated · Series B · Jun 2026

Ona Therapeutics is a spin-off from IRB Barcelona and ICREA that develops precision-engineered antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) to target treatment-resistant cancers. The company uses a proprietary, patient-driven discovery platform to identify tumor-specific antigens and epitopes that enable efficient internalization and targeted payload delivery. Its lead clinical program is ONA-255, initially focused on breast cancer, and it is also advancing ONA-389 targeting colorectal cancer. The company integrates target validation, antibody engineering, optimized payload selection and validated linker-payload technologies in its ADC development approach. Led by CEO Valerie Vanhooren, Ona plans to use the Series B proceeds to advance clinical development of its lead and second programs. The article does not disclose revenue, user metrics or a company valuation.

Led · Series C · Sep 2025

SafeHeal SAS, together with its U.S. subsidiary SafeHeal Inc., designs and develops Colovac, a flexible endoluminal bypass sheath intended to shield the anastomotic site from fecal matter following colorectal surgery. The device remains in place for roughly 10 days and is later removed endoscopically, sparing patients a second surgical intervention and the lifestyle burdens of an ostomy bag. Colovac is currently limited to investigational use in the United States under an IDE study, while commercialization efforts are focused on the European Union. The newly raised capital will accelerate the U.S. pivotal IDE trial and fund EU commercial launch preparations. SafeHeal’s Series C round was initially €35 million and has now been extended, demonstrating strong investor interest. Although the company has not disclosed revenue or user metrics, its financing momentum underscores market confidence in the potential clinical and economic benefits of Colovac.

Participated · Series B · Jun 2025

SpliceBio is a clinical-stage genetic medicines company pioneering a Protein Splicing platform that uses engineered inteins to enable delivery of large genes via dual AAV vectors. Its lead program, SB-007, is a dual AAV gene therapy designed to restore full-length ABCA4 protein expression for Stargardt disease. SB-007 received FDA IND clearance in December 2024, has Orphan Drug Designation from both the FDA and the European Commission, and obtained MHRA clearance to enter clinical development. The company is currently running the Phase 1/2 ASTRA interventional study (first patient dosed March 2025) and the POLARIS observational natural history study. Proceeds from the financing will support continued clinical development of SB-007 and accelerate SpliceBio's broader pipeline of AAV gene therapy programs in ophthalmology, neurology, and other undisclosed indications. SpliceBio leverages technology developed in the Muir Lab at Princeton University and is based in Barcelona, Spain. SpliceBio exploits Protein Splicing to develop the next generation of gene therapies and operates a proprietary platform that enables efficient delivery of large genes with adeno-associated vectors (AAV). The platform is designed to overcome AAV cargo-size limits by using intein and protein engineering approaches developed over more than 20 years in the Muir Lab at Princeton University. Led by CEO Miquel Vila-Perelló, the company intends to use its technology to build a pipeline of Protein Splicing gene therapy programs. Its lead program in Stargardt disease is being advanced toward the clinic. Financially, SpliceBio raised €50M in a Series A financing to support pipeline development and clinical advancement. The company was seeded in 2020 by Ysios Capital and Asabys Partners. Splice Bio, formerly ProteoDesign, develops intein-based technologies for gene therapy aimed at treating genetic diseases. Its platform, based on research carried out at Princeton by the company's cofounders, is designed to overcome key limitations of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors. The technology could enable treatments for diseases caused by mutations in large genes and broaden the range of organs that can be targeted. The company announced a new financing round to advance the development of these therapies. Proceeds will be used to develop new therapies for genetic diseases. Splice Bio also refreshed its brand to reflect its renewed focus on gene therapy. ProteoDesign is a biotechnology spin-out from Princeton University that develops personalized cancer immunotherapies. The company says it has a novel in-house protein-engineering platform discovered after more than 20 years of pioneering research. ProteoDesign announced the close of a €1.7 million funding round led by venture firm Caixa Capital Risc, with participation from a business angel. Caixa Capital Risc was already an existing investor in the company's shareholder base. The proceeds will be used to advance ProteoDesign's immunotherapy candidates through preclinical development.

Participated · Series C · Apr 2025

deepull is a Barcelona, Spain-based medical diagnostics company focused on culture-free diagnostic solutions for sepsis and acute infections. It is developing the UllCORE BSI Test, an automated, walkaway system that uses molecular techniques to extract and detect microbial DNA directly from whole blood. The multiplex PCR test covers 95% of sepsis-causing pathogens, including bacteria and fungi, and detects antibiotic resistance genes, providing critical results in about one hour. deepull intends to use the €50M Series C proceeds to finalize clinical validation and expedite regulatory approval of its UllCORE diagnostic system. The company is led by CEO Jordi Carrera. The Series C included participation from multiple existing investors alongside the new lead investors. DeepUll is a medical technology company developing culture-free diagnostics for early identification of sepsis and other acute infections. Founded in 2020 in Barcelona by the founders of STAT-Dx, the company has assembled a team of globally recognized experts. Its sepsis product is designed to detect more than 250 pathogens and 15 resistance genes from 10 mL of blood in about one hour. The product also generates phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility results in roughly eight hours without requiring a positive blood culture. Intended as a desktop, end-to-end automated device, it is designed for deployment in laboratories, emergency departments and ICUs. The company aims to improve patient outcomes and reduce unnecessary antimicrobial use; the recent Series B financing that reached €17M will support platform development and the path to market. DeepUll develops culture-free, affordable diagnostic solutions aimed at the early identification of sepsis and other acute infections. Its core product is an automated, desktop diagnostics platform designed to detect more than 250 pathogens and about 15 resistance genes in one hour from 10 mL of whole blood. The system produces phenotypic antimicrobial-susceptibility results in about eight hours without requiring a positive blood culture and is intended for deployment in laboratories, emergency rooms and ICUs. DeepUll’s platform includes end-to-end automation and leverages artificial intelligence to provide medical decision support across early recognition, precise diagnostics and therapy guidance. To accelerate development, DeepUll will expand its RD&I activities to bring the automated diagnostics device toward clinical use. The company was founded in 2020 in Barcelona by the founders of STAT-Dx. DeepUll develops culture-free diagnostic solutions for sepsis and acute infections. Its sepsis product is designed to detect more than 250 different pathogens and about 15 resistance genes in one hour starting from 10mL of whole blood. The product will generate phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility results in about eight hours, without requiring a positive blood culture. It is planned as a desktop system with end-to-end automation, intended to be placed in any clinical setting. The company raised €13M in a Series B to progress the development of its sepsis recognition platform toward the market. DeepUll was founded by Jordi Carrera and Rafel Bru, who previously co-founded STAT-Dx (acquired by Qiagen in 2018), and is based in Barcelona, Spain. DeepUll is building a diagnostic platform that identifies pathogens and provides antibiograms in a few hours without prior culture, and incorporates patient immunological status and AI to predict sepsis onset and evolution. The system aims to enable earlier, precision therapeutic recommendations by combining pathogen detection with data-driven assessment of the patient’s immune and functional status. The company plans to validate the underlying technologies and build initial diagnostic units to demonstrate clinical utility. The funds raised in the announced round are intended to cover the financial needs for technology validation and the development of first devices. DeepUll was founded in 2019 by Jordi Carrera and Rafel Bru and is based in the Parc Científic de Barcelona. The team highlights prior entrepreneurial experience from selling STAT-Dx to QIAGEN and positions the product to address sepsis and antibiotic resistance at hospital scale.

Participated · Series A · Mar 2025

Augustine Therapeutics develops selective inhibitors of the cytosolic histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) enzyme for chronic indications. Its lead program, AGT-100216, is described as the first selective HDAC6 inhibitor designed for long-term treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. The company highlights a non-hydroxamate, non-hydrazide chemotype intended to provide selectivity and avoid limitations of other chemotypes, and says the approach is built for chronic diseases. Augustine plans to use newly raised capital to advance AGT-100216 through a Phase I/II proof-of-concept clinical trial in CMT. The company targets neuromuscular, neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic diseases with this selective HDAC6 approach. Augustine is led by CEO Gerhard Koenig and was founded on research by Prof. Ludo Van Den Bosch at VIB-KU Leuven in Belgium. The recent financing strengthens its balance sheet to support clinical development. Augustine Therapeutics is developing novel, potent, subtype-selective small-molecule inhibitors of the cytosolic HDAC6 enzyme targeting neurodegenerative and cardiometabolic diseases. Its lead candidate, AGT100216, is a peripherally restricted selective HDAC6 inhibitor that has shown impressive preclinical efficacy in Charcot‑Marie‑Tooth (CMT) studies and peripheral neuropathies induced by chemotherapy (CIPN). The company’s chemistry is distinct from first-generation hydroxamate-based HDAC6 inhibitors and is designed to safely and selectively reverse pathophysiological changes associated with neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases. Augustine plans to advance AGT100216 into a Phase 1/2 first-in-human clinical trial in 2025 and to develop next-generation candidates with peripheral-restricted or brain-penetrant properties. Proceeds from the financing will also support expansion of the executive and R&D teams. Augustine was founded in 2019 as a VIB-KU Leuven spin-off and is based in Leuven, Belgium. Augustine Therapeutics is focused on the discovery and development of innovative therapeutics for Charcot‑Marie‑Tooth disease (CMT) and other neuromuscular disorders. The company is rooted in research from the VIB–KU Leuven labs of Ludo Van Den Bosch and collaborations between the labs of Joris de Wit and Bart De Strooper, which uncovered biological pathways and therapeutic targets in peripheral neuropathies. VIB Discovery Sciences is leading the preclinical development of Augustine’s new therapeutics and will apply industry-trained drug discovery expertise to the early pipeline. Augustine completed a €4.2 million seed financing to support target validation and early-stage development. Day-to-day interim management is being handled by Ward Capoen (V-Bio Ventures) and Jérôme Van Biervliet (VIB) while the company seeks a dedicated management team. The company aims to advance validated targets toward novel treatments that address the limited therapeutic options for CMT patients.