Revier Therapeutics Launches with 6 Million Euros in Seed Funding

The Heidelberg-based biotech startup Revier Therapeutics is launching with seed funding of 6 million euros. The round is led by the KHAN Technology Transfer Fund II. Other participants include the High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), VORNvc, and private investors through Revier Invest Heidelberg. The company plans to use the capital to advance its preclinical pipeline for the treatment of cardiometabolic diseases and to build out its scientific, clinical, and operational structures.

A New Approach to Cardiometabolic Diseases

Revier Therapeutics is developing a new therapeutic approach for the selective inhibition of so-called Class IIa histone deacetylases, or HDACs for short. These enzymes play a role in various serious diseases and could offer a new therapeutic target for treating cardiometabolic diseases.

The scientific foundations stem, among other things, from research conducted at Heidelberg University under the direction of Prof. Johannes Backs, who is now the scientific founder of Revier Therapeutics.

The company is developing orally available low-molecular-weight active ingredients, known as small molecules. These are designed to specifically inhibit the disease-driving enzymatic activity of Class IIa HDACs while preserving important biological functions.

Limitations of Previous HDAC Therapies

With its selective mechanism of action, Revier aims to address a problem associated with earlier HDAC inhibitors. These targeted a broader range of HDAC classes, which could lead to dose-limiting side effects.

Revier’s drug candidates, on the other hand, are designed to target only specific Class IIa HDACs. At the same time, the fundamental functions of these enzymes—as well as those of Class I HDACs—are intended to be preserved.

This precise mechanism of action is intended to enable therapeutic efficacy while maintaining a favorable safety profile.

Prof. Johannes Backs

Whether this approach can indeed be translated into effective and safe drugs remains to be seen in further preclinical and, later, clinical development.

Heart Failure as the First Development Program

The pipeline initially focuses on heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, or HFpEF for short. This is a form of heart failure in which the heart’s pumping function—as measured by the ejection fraction—remains largely intact, yet cardiac function is still significantly impaired. As a second program, Revier is working on a therapeutic approach to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

We believe that the next generation of cardiometabolic drugs must address the underlying disease-driving biology to enable effective and long-term solutions for patients.

Prof. Eva van Rooij, CEO and Co-Founder

The seed funding will be used to further develop both preclinical programs. At the same time, the company aims to lay the groundwork to advance the lead program, in particular, toward clinical development as quickly as possible.

KHAN-II Leads the Funding Round

The €6 million round is led by the KHAN Technology Transfer Fund II. The early-stage fund focuses on life sciences companies and novel therapeutic approaches for diseases with high unmet medical needs. Michael Hamacher, Managing Partner and CFO at KHAN-II, sees the selective Class IIa HDAC strategy as an opportunity to harness the therapeutic potential of HDAC biology while overcoming the challenges of earlier approaches.

In addition to KHAN-II, the High-Tech Gründerfonds and the Dortmund-based VC firm VORNvc are investing. Private investors are also participating through Revier Invest Heidelberg. Revier Invest Heidelberg is backed by nine private investors from the Rhine-Neckar region, Lünen, and Detroit. The initiative, led by Daniel Stern, is also intended to support Revier in its business development in Baden-Württemberg.

Experienced Team from Academia and Biotech

In parallel with the financing, Revier Therapeutics has introduced its leadership team. CEO Prof. Eva van Rooij is a professor of molecular cardiology at the University Medical Center Utrecht and brings experience as a biotech entrepreneur as well as in translational cardiovascular research. Scientific founder Prof. Johannes Backs heads the Institute for Experimental Cardiology at Heidelberg University and is, among other roles, a professor at the German Center for Cardiovascular Research.

Mike Nolan joins as Chief Technology Officer, bringing more than 20 years of experience in drug discovery, research platforms, and startup ventures. Chief Scientific Officer Matthias Dewenter brings expertise in the preclinical development of new therapies for heart failure and cardiometabolic diseases.

The Chief Medical Officer is Prof. Norbert Frey, Director of the Department of Cardiology, Angiology, and Pulmonology at Heidelberg University Hospital.

Heidelberg research is set to yield a new drug

Revier Therapeutics is thus another biotech company emerging at the intersection of university research and commercial drug development. The 6 million euros now provide the startup with the financial resources to advance its research approach to the next phase of development. In addition to further validating its drug candidates, the focus is particularly on preparing for future clinical development.

There is still a long way to go before a drug can be approved. First, Revier must demonstrate that the selective inhibition of Class IIa HDACs is not only scientifically promising but can also be translated into a safe and effective therapeutic approach for patients with cardiometabolic diseases.