The Venture Codex

Participated · Series C · Oct 2020

WISE develops implantable, stretchable electronic electrodes using its proprietary Supersonic Technology to create ultra-thin elastomeric foils that aim to improve tissue conformability, softness, adhesion and signal sensing versus rigid electrodes. Its lead product in the round, the Heron lead, is a spinal cord stimulation device designed to deliver targeted directional stimulation via a minimally invasive percutaneous implant technique and to combine the precision of paddle leads with the procedural ease of cylindrical leads. WISE also markets the WISE Cortical Strip, a soft and stretchable electrode for intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring that has CE marking under MDR, FDA clearance, and is commercially available in Europe, the U.S., and Australia. The company plans to use the Series D proceeds to complete the Heron lead’s regulatory certification pathway, fund a first-in-human study, and scale commercialization of its electrode portfolio across target markets. The company positions its technology to support higher energy efficiency, improved anatomical coverage, better neural signal sensing, and reduced lead migration. The financing coincided with governance updates, including the appointment of Laura Iris Ferro as Chairperson and the addition of Giuseppe Corvino to the board.

Participated · Series D · Jan 2018

Enterome is a clinical-stage company developing first-in-class OncoMimics immunotherapies, led by lead candidate EO2463. EO2463 is an off-the-shelf immunotherapy combining four synthetic OncoMimics peptides that mimic B‑cell markers (CD20, CD22, CD37 and CD268/BAFF receptor) plus a helper peptide (UCP2) to target malignant B lymphocytes. The approach aims to provide broad target coverage to improve safety and maximize efficacy while reducing antigen-escape driven resistance. Enterome is expanding and finalizing its Phase 1/2 SIDNEY clinical trial and preparing EO2463 for a registrational program, including a planned pivotal Phase 3 for the “watch-and-wait” iNHL population. The company has held positive interactions with regulators (FDA Type C meeting and EMA Scientific Advice) that outline a clear path to marketing authorization in watch-and-wait iNHL. New and prior clinical data (including ASCO 2024 and upcoming ICML presentation) support EO2463’s activity as monotherapy and in combination and suggest biomarker-driven identification of likely responders. Enterome leverages its understanding of the gut microbiome–immune interaction to discover and develop small molecules, proteins and peptide therapeutics for cancer, autoimmune, inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Its pipeline includes cancer immunotherapies (EO2401, EO2463), EndoMimics biologics (EM101) for inflammatory diseases, and EB8018 (sibofimloc/TAK-018), an oral FimH blocker advancing in Crohn’s disease trials. EO2401 was expected to enter Phase 1/2 trials in glioblastoma and adrenal malignancies in mid-2020, while EO2463 is being prepared as a clinical candidate for B‑cell malignancies. EB8018 is partnered globally with Takeda, with Enterome retaining a significant profit share in the US. The company has operations in Paris and Boston and is led by CEO Pierre Belichard. Enterome recently closed a €46.3M financing and drew the first tranche from a previously agreed European Investment Bank loan facility to support clinical development. Enterome is a clinical-stage biotech pioneering microbiome-derived pharmaceuticals and diagnostics targeting inflammatory bowel diseases and cancer. Its lead programs are EB8018, an oral gut‑restricted FimH blocker for Crohn’s disease, and EO2315, an immuno‑oncology candidate derived from bacterial antigens. EB8018 completed a Phase 1 trial in 2017 showing safety and minimal blood absorption and is advancing to Phase 2; EO2315 has produced strong immune responses and tumor cell‑killing ex vivo and controlled tumor growth in vivo and is entering a Phase 1b study in glioblastoma. The company is also developing the next generation of its proprietary metagenomics drug discovery platform to expand therapeutic target discovery. Enterome has established partnerships with pharmaceutical companies (including Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, Takeda, Abbvie and Bristol‑Myers Squibb) and a 50/50 joint venture with Nestlé Health Science for microbiome diagnostics. The company was founded in 2012 in Paris. Enterome Bioscience SA, based in Paris and Boston, pioneers pharmaceuticals and diagnostics derived from the gut microbiome. Its lead therapeutic candidate is EB 8018, a novel small-molecule FimH antagonist licensed from Vertex that targets Adherent Invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) proliferation. EB 8018 is being developed as a potential treatment for inflammatory bowel diseases and acts by preventing AIEC adhesion to the gut wall to help restore a dysbiotic microbiome. The company also develops microbiome-based diagnostics for IBD and other microbiome-related diseases and seeks partnerships with diagnostic and pharmaceutical companies. Enterome intends to advance therapeutic programs in immuno-oncology alongside its diagnostics and gut-focused therapies. The company will use the recent financing to support moving EB 8018 into first clinical studies in 2016. Enterome Bioscience develops disease management solutions and diagnostic products grounded in gut microbiome science. The company is building diagnostic tools to support patient stratification, personalized therapies and the clinical development of new drugs. Target indications include microbiome-related diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases and metabolic diseases like diabetes and obesity. Enterome intends to use newly raised funds for R&D and business development activities. Founded in 2012 and led by CEO Pierre Belichard, the company is based in Paris, France. To date it has raised a total of €17.5m.

Participated · Series A · Jan 2017

Pedius has developed a mobile app that allows Deaf and hard-of-hearing people to make normal phone calls and access voice services such as emergency and customer-care calls via voice recognition and speech synthesis technologies. The company offers both consumer solutions for individuals and business solutions to help corporates activate toll-free numbers for hard-of-hearing customers and to foster inclusion of disabled workers. Its platform is active in nine countries (including Italy, France, the UK, Spain and the USA), supports six languages and has 13,000 registered users. Pedius partners with TIM (which has implemented the technology in its call centers), BNL, HP, Axa Assistance and several Italian municipalities. The company intends to use the new funds to invest in sales in emerging countries, build up its commercial network and develop new products dedicated to elderly people. Lorenzo Di Ciaccio is CEO and co-founder. Pedius developed a communication service that lets deaf and hard-of-hearing people make phone calls by combining voice recognition and speech synthesis technologies. The service is available in Italy, the UK and Ireland and has been adopted by Telecom Italia in its contact centers. The company has a team of eight people and is led by founder Lorenzo Di Ciaccio (29). Pedius has won a TIM#WCAP grant in 2013 and several other awards. It intends to use the new funding to expand internationally. The company recently raised €410K in funding from strategic investors.

Led · Equity · May 2016

Rigenerand Srl develops biomedical devices and tools to support the culture and ex-vivo expansion of stem cells for pre-clinical and clinical applications. The company owns proprietary technology and uses innovative biocompatible materials to combine high cell yield with practical biomedical tools. Rigenerand was founded in 2009 as a spin-off from a joint venture between RanD and researchers from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and is based in Medolla (MO), Italy. Led by CEO Giorgio Mari, the company is currently advancing two different projects. Rigenerand raised €8.7m in venture capital and intends to use the funds to invest in technology and realize a new "cell factory". The financing is aimed at supporting scale-up toward its clinical and pre-clinical device goals.

Led · Series A · Apr 2016

Silk Biomaterials develops technology for the production of medical implantable devices made of silk aimed at in-vivo regeneration of human tissues. The company intends to commercialize its products for human indications through licensing agreements. Silk was incubated within ComoNExT, a Lomazzo-based scientific park. It is led by CEO Gabriele Grecchi. In April 2016 the company raised €7M in Series A venture capital funding. This round follows a €485K angel funding round raised in 2015.