Acticor Biotech Secures €7M Series B Funding to Advance ACT017 for Acute Ischemic Stroke Treatment

On November 7, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that biopharmaceutical company Acticor Biotech announced the completion of a €7 million Series B financing round. The round was led by Go Capital, with participation from Newton BioCapital, CapDecisif Management, and Anaxago.

Upon completion of this financing round, Acticor Biotech will conduct the Phase II clinical trial ACTIMIS for its lead candidate drug, ACT017, to evaluate its clinical efficacy in acute ischemic stroke. Additionally, Leila Nicolas, Investment Director at Go Capital, will join the Board of Directors of Acticor Biotech, and Agile Capital Markets will serve as the financial advisor to Acticor Biotech.

Acticor Biotech, a biopharmaceutical company founded in 2013 and headquartered in Paris, France, is dedicated to developing novel antithrombotic drugs for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Currently, Acticor Biotech is developing ACT017, a candidate drug based on humanized antibody fragments (Fab), as a novel therapeutic agent for acute ischemic stroke.

Stroke is a sudden onset of neurological deficits caused by cerebral hemorrhage or infarction. It is characterized by rapid onset and, in most cases, affects motor function on one side of the body, leading to hemiplegia, unilateral blindness, and speech impairments. Approximately 80% of strokes are ischemic, resulting from the occlusion of arteries supplying blood to the brain. If ischemic stroke persists for more than a few minutes or hours, it can cause neurological damage, leading to severe disability or death.

According to data from the World Health Organization, 15 million people worldwide suffer a stroke each year; of these, approximately 6 million die, and another 5 million are left with permanent disabilities. Stroke has become the third leading cause of death globally, and there is currently a significant shortage of therapeutic drugs for its treatment.

Based on its research into the platelet glycoprotein GPVI, Acticor Biotech has developed a candidate biologic, ACT017. GPVI is a platelet receptor for collagen and polymerized fibrin. ACT017 is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to GPVI and inhibits platelet adhesion and aggregation on collagen and polymerized fibrin. The efficacy and safety of ACT017 have currently been demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo studies.

Go Capital, established in 2003 and headquartered in Rennes, France, is a private equity firm. The company primarily focuses on sectors such as the digital economy, life sciences, eco-technologies, and service innovation. Go Capital invests in innovative companies with high growth potential and currently manages assets exceeding $130 million.

Newton BioCapital, established in 2017 and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, is a financial services and venture capital firm. The company is dedicated to providing funding for biotechnology and life sciences projects in core European regions and Japan, with a focus on the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.

CapDecisif Management, founded in 2001 and headquartered in Paris, France, is a venture capital firm. The company primarily focuses on the healthcare, digital health, and technology sectors, providing funding to early-stage startups with high growth potential.

Anaxago, founded in 2012 and headquartered in Paris, France, is a financial services company. The company is dedicated to building a new crowdfunding platform, with its venture capital arm focusing on investing in innovative companies in the healthcare and biotechnology sectors. Since its inception, Anaxago has grown its membership to over 100,000 individuals, acquired 200 companies and real estate projects, and achieved a total investment volume exceeding €150 million.

(Compiled by Xu Xiaoxue)