San Raffaele-Telethon gene therapy spinout Genespire has picked up series A funding from Sofinnova Partners to target inherited metabolic diseases and primary immunodeficiencies.
Genespire, an Italy-based gene therapy developer spun out of San Raffaele-Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, has procured €16m ($17.6m) of series A funding from life sciences-focused venture firm Sofinnova Partners.
Founded in 2020 in collaboration with San Raffaele Hospital and biomedical charity Fondazione Telethon, Genespire is working on gene therapies for patients with genetic diseases.
The spinout will primarily target inherited metabolic disease as well as primary immunodeficiencies, a group of more than 300 conditions that involve either dysfunction or damage to the immune system.
The series A cash is intended to progress the development of Genespire’s platform and uncover drug candidates for clinical research.
Graziano Seghezzi and Lucia Faccio, managing partner and partner at Sofinnova Partners respectively, have both joined the board of directors.
Genespire’s founding team includes Luigi Naldini, director of San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, and Alessio Cantore, lead for new gene therapy strategies at university research hospital IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele.
Naldini said: “Our mission has always been to develop breakthrough solutions for genetic diseases. This financing enables the company to translate our innovative science and early-stage programs into clinical development.”
