Novartis Venture Fund and Novo Seeds co-led a $10.4m round for oncology therapy developer Rappta on behalf of corporate parents Novartis and Novo.

Finland-headquartered cancer drug developer Rappta Therapeutics received €9m ($10.4m) on Tuesday in a series A round co-led by pharmaceutical firms Novartis and Novo through subsidiaries Novartis Venture Fund (NVF) and Novo Seeds.

Venture capital firm Advent Life Sciences and an undisclosed family office also participated in the round, while the state-backed Business Finland has also invested in Rappta.

Rappta is developing therapeutics designed to activate an enzyme known as protein phosphatase 2A in order to suppress tumours.

NVF principal Beat…

James Mawson

James Mawson is founder and chief executive of Global Venturing.