Funds to advance antiviral lead product ATR-002 into clinical trials.
Tübingen (Germany), January 3, 2019 – Atriva Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of host-targeting antiviral therapies, today announced the first closing in its ongoing series A financing round lead by Meneldor and High-Tech Gründerfonds GmbH (HTGF). The Company founders and management joined the round, also. These funds will be focused to prepare first-in-humans clinical testing of the Company’s lead product candidate ATR-002, to be started in 2019. ATR-002 is a first-in-class host-targeting inhibitor of viral replication in influenza and other respiratory infections, an important area of high unmet medical need. The Company will secure additional series A funds for the Phase I and Phase II development of ATR-002 through proof of concept trials.
During 2018, Atriva Therapeutics successfully completed preclinical development of ATR-002 and recently filed a request for scientific advice from a European regulatory authority to provide guidance on the executed preclinical development program and the planned ATR-002 Phase I study in healthy volunteers.
The Company is now advancing ATR-002 towards full clinical development, focusing on patients with influenza at high risk developing complications. ATR-002 is a MEK inhibitor, targeting a fundamental cellular protein of the replication pathway of influenza-causing viruses and other respiratory viral infections. MEK inhibitors have shown high potential as efficacious and safe antiviral drugs to address the need for a novel, broadly active and resistance-avoiding influenza therapy.
About Atriva Therapeutics GmbH
Atriva Therapeutics, founded in 2015, is a biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of host-targeting antiviral therapies setup by a team of leading scientists in viral research and seasoned industry experts. The company aims to develop new antiviral therapies against different respiratory viral infections. Atriva’s lead product ATR-002 is a first-in-class host-targeting agent, inhibiting viral replication in influenza and other respiratory infections, an area of high unmet medical need. The Company owns five broad patent families with broad coverage related to the use of MEK inhibitors for anti-viral therapies and late expiry in 2038. Atriva was a winner of the German 2016 Science4Live business plan concept contest. Atriva Therapeutics is located in Tübingen, Germany. For further information, please visit www.atriva-therapeutics.com.
About Meneldor
Meneldor is an investment fund, focused on early stage biotech and pharma companies that (re)develop (New) Biological or Chemical Molecular Entities, that have outstanding technology with strong IP, address significant unmet medical needs and attractive markets. Meneldor scouts especially for companies that work on relatively low risk and high growth opportunities, and mainly invests in projects which are in preclinical, Phase I or Phase II and in indications with preferably clear well-defined clinical endpoints. Meneldor’s geographic focus is Western Europe.
Contact:
Ir. Paul Lelieveld
Van Heemstraweg 123d
6651 KH Druiten, the Netherlands
+31 (499) 324965
paul.lelieveld@meneldor.nl
About High-Tech Gründerfonds
High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) is a seed investor that finances high-potential, tech-driven startups. With EUR 892.5 million in total investment volume across three funds and an international network of partners, HTGF has already helped forge 500 startups since 2005. Driven by their expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and passion, its team of experienced investment managers and startup experts help guide the development of young companies. HTGF’s focus is on high-tech startups in a range of sectors, including software, hardware and life sciences / chemistry.
To date, external investors have injected over EUR 1.9 billion into the HTGF portfolio via about 1,400 follow-on financing rounds. HTGF has also successfully sold interests in more than 100 companies. Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry For Economic Affairs and Energy, the KfW Banking Group, and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft e.V., as well as the companies ALTANA, BASF, BAYER, B.Braun, Boehringer Ingelheim, Robert Bosch, BÜFA, CEWE, Deutsche Post DHL, Dräger, Drillisch AG, EVONIK, EWE AG, Haniel, Hettich, Knauf, Körber, LANXESS, media + more venture Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, PHOENIX CONTACT, Postbank, QIAGEN, RWE Generation SE, SAP, Schufa, Schwarz Gruppe, STIHL, Thüga, Vector Informatik, WACKER and Wilh. Werhahn KG.
Contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Dr. Frank Hensel
Schlegelstr. 2
53113 Bonn
Germany
+49 228 82300 100
info@htgf.de
www.htgf.de