Milan-based biotech Aptadir Therapeutics raises $45M seed round

Milan-based biotech Aptadir Therapeutics has raised $45 million in seed funding for its novel treatments aimed at genetic conditions. This is one of the largest investments received by an Italian health startup and marks one of the biggest early-stage funding rounds in Europe. The investment round was led by London-based VC firm 4BIO Capital, with participation from pre-seed investor Extend, Italy's national technology transfer hub for biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

Other investors include CDP Venture Capital, XGEN Venture, and CE-Ventures. Aptadir is currently in the preclinical stage, developing a unique class of RNA inhibitors that target defective genes for the treatment of genetic disorders and certain cancers. The technology behind this approach was developed by an international team of experts in RNA and DNA biology, genetic disorders, leukaemia, and immunotherapeutics.

Initially, the company plans to use the funds to develop a treatment for Fragile X Syndrome, a genetic condition that leads to intellectual disability, learning difficulties, and developmental delays. The CEO of Aptadir, Giovanni Amabile, stated that the round's size reflects the potential of their DiRs technology and the high quality of their international scientific team.

With the support of these investors, Aptadir aims to develop a pipeline of drug candidates that could restore genetic pathways considered irreversibly silenced for decades.