Skip to main content

Versant Ventures establishes Vector BioPharma AG

| News

Versant Ventures establishes Vector BioPharma AG

12.08.2022

Vector Biopharma is the latest company to be founded by Ridgeline, a discovery engine from Basel-based venture capitalist Versant Ventures. Vector develops a platform for the targeted administration of high-capacity genetic payloads.

biotech

Versant Ventures has announced the founding of Vector BioPharma AG. The new company is being launched out of the Ridgeline discovery engine from globally active investor Versant Ventures. The venture capitalist for biotech companies provided startup funding amounting to 30 million US dollars. In addition to Versant Ventures, the University of Zurich (UZH) is also a partner of Vector.

Vector develops a platform for the targeted administration of high-capacity genetic payloads. According to a press release from Versant Ventures, this is able to overcome the three main obstacles that face other technologies: issues with tissue-specific delivery of payloads, limitations on the size of genetic cargo that can be packaged, and adverse immunogenic reactions.

Platform with advantages

Vector CEO Lorenz Mayr states that the platform has “significant advantages” as a result of its abilities regarding these obstacles. He adds that the technology has the potential to change the safety, efficacy, and specificity of biologics and gene and cell therapies.

Andreas Plückthun from the University of Zurich adds: “It is gratifying to see the work that started 10 years ago is now being translated into new therapies.” He developed this platform as a pioneer in the field of protein engineering. Plückthun is a Co-Founder of Vector and is a member of the board.

You may also be interested in

Roche investing an additional 1.2 billion Swiss francs in Basel

Roche will be putting an additional 1.2 billion Swiss francs towards the renovation of its site in Basel. This investment...
Read More

Nouscom secures 67.5 million euros in financing

Biotech company Nouscom has raised 67.5 million euros in a series C financing round. The Basel-based firm intends to use...
Read More

How open innovation in healthtech hubs is fueling the rise of digital healthcare

How the ever-increasing uptake of digital solutions is enhancing patient engagement, increasing access to care and lowering the cost of...
Read More

Paradigm shift in pain management

Pain is a crucial sensation for survival, but it can also drive us to depression and long-term suffering if not...
Read More

Investors stump up 3.7 million Swiss francs in Onena Medicines

Onena Medicines has secured an investment of 3.7 million Swiss francs. The portfolio company of the biotech startup incubator BaseLaunch...
Read More