Sofinnova Partners leads Enyo Pharma €22M financing

Paris, France – February 3rd. 2016

Sofinnova Partners, a leading European venture capital firm specialized in Life Sciences, today announced that portfolio company ENYO Pharma, a biotech company specialized in the treatment of acute and chronic viral infections such as hepatitis B, raised €22 M in a Series A financing. As leading and seed investor, Sofinnova Partners led the fundraising and brought together an international investors’ syndicate composed of Morningside Ventures and Bpifrance, through its Innobio fund.

The deal was completed just one year after Sofinnova Partners’ initial seed investment, and follows upon ENYO Pharma’s recent successes: the firm licensed several patents and created a unique technology platform for the treatment of viral pathologies, one of healthcare’s fastest growing sector.

ENYO Pharma was created in 2014 by Patrice André and Vincent Lotteau, two Inserm scientists based in Lyon (France). The CEO and co-founder, Jacky Vonderscher, PhD, is a highly experienced industry veteran with a successful history of developing novel therapeutics, in particular for Roche and Novartis (i.e. Sandimmum Neoral®, Myfortic® Certican®, Afinitor®).

Based on a radically new therapeutic approach of infectious diseases, ENYO Pharma’s technology does not target the constituents of the virus, like most existing antivirals do, but targets the infected individual’s cellular functions which are central in the virus replication. By disrupting the interactions between viral and human proteins, the technology impedes virus’ activation. The paradigm shift that ENYO Pharma’s platform introduces for viral diseases opens new perspectives for therapy beyond infectious diseases. Funds raised will be used to accelerate the deployment of ENYO Pharma’s programs, and launch Phase 1 clinical trials for its lead compound which focuses on hepatitis B. In addition, the firm develops a second program which focuses on influenza.

Rafaèle Tordjman, M.D., PhD, Managing Partner at Sofinnova Partner says: « ENYO Pharma perfectly illustrates Sofinnova Partners’ strategy which targets disruptive technologies combined with outstanding managers: we have developed strong ties with Jacky Vonderscher who sits on the Board of Sofinnova Partners’ portfolio company ObsEva. His vision and talent are key assets to carry out ENYO Pharma’s potential, and after the success of the seed investment phase, we are thrilled to continue backing the team”.

Jacky Vonderscher, PhD, CEO of ENYO Pharma, continues: « With over 350 million people chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus awaiting treatment, ENYO Pharma answers a huge medical need. Sofinnova Partners played a key role in the success of the fundraising, and our investors’ support will allow us to develop our technology and bring patients radically novels solutions ».

About Sofinnova Partners - www.sofinnova.fr

Sofinnova Partners is a leading European venture capital firm specialized in Life Sciences. Based in Paris, France, the firm brings together 12 highly experienced investment professionals from all over Europe, the US and China. The firm focuses on paradigm shifting technologies alongside visionary entrepreneurs. Sofinnova Partners seeks to invest as a founding and lead investor in start-ups and corporate spin-offs, and has backed nearly 500 companies over more than 40 years, creating market leaders around the globe. Today, Sofinnova Partners has over €1.5 billion under management.