Atriva Therapeutics Completes Series A Financing to Advance Antiviral Candidate ATR-002 into First-in-Human Clinical Trials

Recently, VCBeat (WeChat Official Account: vcbeat) learned that biopharmaceutical company Atriva Therapeutics has announced the completion of its Series A financing, which will be used to fund the first-in-human clinical trials of its lead product, ATR-002. This round of financing was led by Meneldor and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF).

Atriva Therapeutics, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Tübingen, Germany, is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated for many years to the research and development of antiviral drugs targeting various indications and viral infections. As the winner of the 2016 German Science 4 Live business plan concept competition, the company assembled top scientists from academic research institutions and experienced industry experts to pioneer the development of a novel antiviral agent, which they named ATR-002.

As a MEK inhibitor, ATR-002 can inhibit viral replication and has demonstrated high efficacy in treating influenza and other respiratory tract infections. ATR-002 not only fully meets the market demand for influenza treatment but also fills the gap in suppressing respiratory viral infections within the medical field.

Dr. Rainer Lichtenberger, Co-founder and CEO of Atriva Therapeutics, stated, “This round of financing serves as strong endorsement for novel therapeutic approaches in the treatment of influenza. We are delighted that our technology has garnered favor from venture capital firms within the industry, while also attracting numerous potential partners. Clinical trial preparations for ATR-002 are underway, and its success will mark the next significant milestone for our company.”

In 2018, Atriva Therapeutics completed the preclinical development of ATR-002 and recently submitted an application to European regulatory authorities, seeking expert guidance on its development program and the Phase I study in healthy volunteers for ATR-002.

Currently, Atriva Therapeutics is focusing on influenza patients carrying the virus and at high risk of complications. As a next step, the company will integrate theory with practice to raise Series A+ funding for the further development of ATR-002.

About High-Tech GründerfondsHigh-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) is an investment firm based in Berlin, Germany. Established on September 1, 2005, it primarily invests in promising startups in the fields of healthcare, media, energy and automation, life sciences, and chemicals. The firm manages three funds with total assets under management amounting to €892.5 million and has provided funding to nearly 500 startups to date. 

Meneldor is an investment firm focused on the early-stage biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors, headquartered in Missouri, United States. The company primarily invests in companies offering relatively low-risk, high-growth opportunities.