EvlaBio receives 21 million euros in seed funding

The biotechnology start-up EvlaBio has successfully completed a seed financing round of 21 million euros. The company's aim is to develop a monoclonal antibody therapy for the treatment of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The funds will be used in particular for the completion of preclinical studies and the preparation of IND (Investigational New Drug) studies.

The round was led by Kurma Partners, together with AdBio Partners, the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, NRW.Venture (NRW.BANK) and the High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF).

Therapeutic approach with potential for millions of patients

EvlaBio is pursuing a first-in-class approach with a novel monoclonal antibody that specifically inhibits the FGF23/FGFR4 signaling pathway. This is a key mechanism associated with abnormal cardiac remodeling in CKD and can lead to the development of heart failure.

Despite medical advances, there is still a significant clinical need in the treatment of LVH in the context of CKD. Our technology intervenes directly at the cardiomyocyte level in a pathologically active signaling pathway and has the potential to improve the quality of life of millions of people affected.

Wenzel von der Heydte, CEO and co-founder of EvlaBio

Scientific roots in the Max Planck environment

EvlaBio's research program was originally initiated by the Lead Discovery Center, a spin-off of Max Planck Innovation, and further developed together with the KHAN Technology Transfer Fund I.

Blocking the overactivity of the FGF23/FGFR4 signaling pathway in the heart could become a promising therapeutic option for CKD patients at high risk of heart failure.

Thomas Kirmeier, COO and co-founder of EvlaBio

The seed financing round is one of the largest of its kind for a biotech company in the DACH region. The investors involved were optimistic about EvlaBio's prospects:

• Hadrien Bouchez, Partner at Kurma Partners: "The team's preclinical data and scientific foundation are impressive. EvlaBio addresses a highly relevant medical need that has not yet been adequately addressed."
• Clément Bertholet, Managing Partner at AdBio Partners: "Our first investment in Germany underlines the conviction that EvlaBio's approach makes the well-known FGFR4/FGF23 signaling pathway therapeutically exploitable in a unique way."
• Marek Kozlowski, Senior Investment Director at NRW.BANK: "Despite a validated target structure, the therapeutic potential of the FGFR4/FGF23 signaling pathway has so far remained untapped. EvlaBio is in a strong position to change this."

EvlaBio is a bioscience company based in Düsseldorf and Zurich. It focuses on the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of cardiovascular and cardiorenal diseases. The lead program is based on a novel monoclonal antibody targeting the FGFR4/FGF23 pathway - a critical factor in cardiac remodeling in the context of chronic kidney disease. EvlaBio aims to establish new treatment standards for a patient group with previously inadequate treatment options.