Versantis raises CHF16m in Series B financing

The CHF16m Series B financing was led by Swisscanto Invest by Zürcher Kantonalbank with co-financing by Esperante Venture, investiere, Redalpine HealthEquity and Zürcher Kantonalbank Start-up Finance. Upon the financing  Dr. Robert Schier, Investment Director PE/VC Health-Tech at Swisscanto Invest, joined Versantis’ Board of Directors.

Versantis will use the proceeds to push its lead candidate  VS-01 through safety and initial efficacy testing. Currently the company runs a first in man Phase IA trial. The company has now enough money to conduct subsequent dose finding and safety testing and to assess first hints of efficacy of VS01 in patients with  decompensated liver cirrhosis indication as well as in Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF).

VS01 is an emergency treatment for patients with acute liver diseases that protects from damage of the liver, kidney and the brain. It’s a liposomal fluid that is administered intraperitoneally in order to support liver function by binding toxic metabolites that accumulate in the body due to limited liver clearance. Importantly, VS-01 clears ammonia from the body, a neurotoxic metabolite leading to hepatic encephalopathy.

With this funding, we aim to demonstrate VS-01 clinical benefit and position Versantis as a key pioneer in the care of serious liver diseases, said Dr. Vincent Forster, CEO and co-founder of Versantis.