Genextra
Via Privata Giovannino De Grassi 11, Milano, Lombardy, 20123, Italy
Overview
Their mission is to identify innovative research in life science and to develop novel therapies and tools by creating successful business initiatives in a sustained and long term way. Genextra's holding structure is designed to increase the probability of success of business initiatives that become part of the Group by providing specialist management as well as financial support to a new company vehicle or an existing young start-up. Genextra was created in 2004 by a group of prominent Italian entrepreneurs and financial institutions in partnership with leading scientists from the European Institute of Oncology (IEO). To date, Genextra has raised over €116 million and represents one of very few examples in Italy of private capital invested for the benefit of research and innovation.
- Total investments
- 6
- Lead investments
- 2
- Investments · 12mo
- 0
- Active investors
- 3
Sector focus
- Biotechnology
Investment portfolio
- Erydel
Led · Series B · Jul 2022
Erydel is a drug delivery company specialized in delivery through autologous red blood cells. Its core approach uses patients' own red blood cells as a vehicle to deliver therapeutics. The company completed a €15m Series B financing. The round was led by Genextra S.p.A. Existing investors Innogest SGR and Focus Gestioni SGR also participated in the financing. Torch Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to Erydel on the transaction. EryDel develops a proprietary device that encapsulates drugs into a patient’s own red blood cells for re-infusion, targeting rare neurodegenerative disorders. Its lead product, EryDex, has received Orphan Drug designation from both the FDA and the EMA for Ataxia Telangiectasia (AT). The company is advancing a registrational Phase III trial (ATTEST) that is currently enrolling in Europe, Asia, Australia and the United States. EryDel plans to use new funding to boost its international development and to complete the ATTEST trial. The company is led by CEO Luca Benatti, a serial entrepreneur who co-founded Newron Pharmaceuticals. EryDel is based in Milan, Italy.
- InnovHeart
Participated · Series C · Jan 2022
InnovHeart s.r.l. develops Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR) systems to treat mitral valve disease, notably its Saturn low-profile mitral heart valve designed for trans-apical or trans-septal delivery. The company has reported excellent mid-term (>1 year) results with the trans-apical version of Saturn and is conducting clinical trials of the system. InnovHeart intends to advance a trans-septal version of the Saturn system into first-in-human clinical trials in 2022. In January 2022 it closed a Series C financing tied to an exclusive licensing agreement in Greater China. The transaction included more than $55 million in equity plus upfront licensing fees, milestone payments and structured royalties to support development and commercialization. InnovHeart has locations in Milan, Italy and Newton, Massachusetts, USA. InnovHeart develops the Saturn transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) system, a low-profile mitral heart valve designed for trans‑apical and trans‑septal delivery. The company is advancing its Saturn system toward First‑in‑Human clinical evaluation using a trans‑apical approach. Proceeds from the recent financing will also support finalizing the trans‑septal delivery system that uses the same valve technology. InnovHeart maintains offices outside Milan, Italy, and in Newton, Massachusetts. The company was founded in 2015 and has been conducting clinical trials of its Saturn TMVR system. Leadership highlights include board chair Keith D. Dawkins, MD, and the addition of Barbara Castellano to the board representing an investor.
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals
Participated · Series C · Aug 2012
Intercept Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapeutics for chronic liver diseases. Its lead product candidate, obeticholic acid (OCA), is a bile acid analog and first-in-class agonist of the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) being developed as a second-line treatment for primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) in patients with inadequate response to or intolerance of ursodiol. OCA has orphan drug designation in both the United States and Europe for the treatment of PBC. Intercept leverages expertise in bile acid chemistry and owns worldwide rights to OCA outside Japan and China, where it has out-licensed the candidate to Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma. The company is led by president and CEO Mark Pruzanski, MD. It recently completed a $30M Series C financing to build its pipeline. Intercept Pharmaceuticals is a New York-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapeutics for chronic fibrotic and metabolic diseases. Its most advanced programs center on modified bile acids that are selective for the nuclear receptor FXR and the G protein-coupled receptor TGR5. The company intends to advance these clinical programs and continue building a pipeline of novel small molecules targeting FXR, TGR5 and other bile acid receptors. Intercept completed a $25M Preferred Series B financing provided by its majority shareholder Genextra S.p.A. Genextra’s backing is expected to enable the company to progress its clinical work while expanding its pipeline. Company leadership includes Dr. Mark Pruzanski (founder, President and CEO) and, in conjunction with the financing, Dr. Lorenzo Tallarigo (CEO of Genextra and Intercept director) is assuming the role of Chairman.