Topas Therapeutics, which is exploiting University of Hamburg research, has pocketed $26m in its series B round.

Topas Therapeutics, a Germany-based developer of treatments for autoimmune diseases based on research at University of Hamburg, closed a €22m ($26m) series B round yesterday co-led by Vesalius BioCapital III and BioMedPartners. All existing shareholders – EMBL Ventures, the investment arm of European Molecular Biology Laboratory, commercialisation firm Epidarex Capital, drug discovery company Evotec, pharmaceutical firm Boehringer Ingelheim’s Venture Fund and Gimv – participated. Founded in 2003, Topas Therapeutics is working on therapies for autoimmune diseases. Its lead asset, TPM203, is aimed at pemphigus vulgaris – which causes painful blistering – and it also has a proposed treatment for coeliac disease, TPM501, in its pipeline. Topas’ technology was co-developed by Johannes Herkel and Jörg Heeren at University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf with an initial focus on multiple sclerosis. They then partnered commercialisation firm Bionamics, subsequently acquired by Evotec, to advance the research. The funding will enable both the progression of TPM203 through clinical development and allow Topas to move TPM501 into trials. Marc Lohrmann of Vesalius and Michael Wacker of BioMedPartners have joined the supervisory board, while Sebastian Kreuz has replaced Detlev Mennerich as a representative for Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund. Erich Greiner has been appointed chairman after having served on the supervisory board since 2016. Topas completed a $20.6m series A round in 2017 backed by Epidarex Capital, EMBL Ventures, Evotec, Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund and Gimv.

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Thierry Heles

Thierry Heles is the editor of Global University Venturing, host of the Beyond the Breakthrough interview podcast and responsible for the monthly GUV Gazette (sign up here for free).