European investment company Gimv, together with EQT Life Sciences as co-lead investor, is pleased to announce the successful completion of a €51 million ($59 million) Series B financing round for Exciva GmbH (www.exciva.com), a Heidelberg-based biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for neuropsychiatric conditions. Additional investors participating in the round include Fountain Healthcare Partners, LifeArc, Modi VC, and Carma Fund, alongside existing investor Andera Partners.
This financing round will enable Exciva to advance its lead compound, Deraphan, into a Phase II clinical trial targeting agitation associated with Alzheimer’s disease. This multi-center international study will take place across Europe, the United States, and Canada, following a successful Phase I study that demonstrated Deraphan’s safety and tolerability. Deraphan combines two clinically validated components, including one new chemical entity (NCE), designed to deliver superior efficacy and an improved risk/benefit profile over the current therapeutic options.
This co-led investment underlines Gimv Life Science’s commitment to supporting pioneering life sciences companies that address urgent unmet medical needs and improve patient outcomes. The partnership with Exciva exemplifies its strategy of backing innovative teams with the potential to deliver breakthrough solutions in life sciences.
Andreas Jurgeit, PhD, Partner Life Sciences at Gimv, comments: “Exciva’s therapy for agitation in Alzheimer’s disease is highly differentiated, addressing significant shortcomings in the current standard of care and other products under development. We are pleased to collaborate with the Exciva team — backed by decades of expertise in neuropsychiatry drug development, including approved therapies — to transform care for this challenging aspect of dementia.”
Christoph Kocher, Principal Life Sciences at Gimv, adds: “At Gimv, we are proud to invest in the advancement of Exciva’s unique neuropsychiatric drug targeting agitation in Alzheimer’s disease. This funding will accelerate the development of a truly differentiated therapy, addressing a critical unmet need in Alzheimer´s patient care.”
For further details, please refer to the official Exciva press release attached.