Based on research at Grousbeck Gene Therapy Center and Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Affinia has raised $60m in a series A round to advance its gene therapies into the clinic.
Affinia Therapeutics, a US-based gene therapy developer based on foundational research at Grousbeck Gene Therapy Center, completed a $60m series A round on Tuesday featuring biotechnology and chemicals producer Lonza Group and care provider Partners Healthcare’s Partners Innovation Fund.
The round was co-led by F-Prime Capital, a subsidiary of investment and financial services group Fidelity, and venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates, and included Atlas Venture and Alexandria Venture Investments, the VC arm of real estate investment trust Alexandria Real Estate Equities.
Affinia is developing gene therapies for use in treating genetic diseases through engineering adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors with its proprietary technology platform.
Its technology was initially developed at Grousbeck Gene Therapy Center by its director Luk Vandenberghe, before Lonza sponsored further research led by Vandenberghe at Harvard Medical School’s affiliate teaching hospital Massachusetts Eye and Ear.
Rick Modi, chief executive of Affinia, said: “At Affinia Therapeutics, we are setting a new standard in gene therapies by leveraging our proprietary platform to methodically engineer novel AAV vectors and gene therapies that have remarkable targeting properties.
“We are pleased to partner with such a distinguished syndicate to advance our platform and investigational product candidates toward the clinic for patients in need.”
Affinia had previously raised $8.4m in a November 2019 seed round, according to a securities filing. It identified Lonza, Partners Innovation Fund and Alexandria Venture Investments as seed investors this week.
