Inserm Transfer Initiative featured in the first round for VectivBio, a short bowel syndrome treatment developer spun out of Therachon following the latter's acquisition by Pfizer.

VectivBio, a Switzerland-based rare disease therapy developer, on Tuesday launched with $35m in capital from backers including Inserm Transfer Initiative, the investment arm of research institute Inserm. Pharmaceutical firm Novo also participated, as did government-owned investment bank Bpifrance, financial services firm Cowen’s Healthcare Investments unit, investment fund Tekla Healthcare Investors and VC firms Versant Ventures and OrbiMed. VectivBio is developing treatments for a range of serious rare diseases. Its lead asset, Apraglutide, targets short bowel syndrome (SBS), caused by the physical or functional loss of the large or small intestine. SBS afflicts an estimated 35,000 people in the US and Europe. It typically affects patients suffering extensive intestinal resection due to chronic inflammatory bowel disease, congenital abnormalities or acute events such as trauma. VectivBio is a spinout of rare genetic disease medicine producer Therachon, a former portfolio company of Inserm Transfer Initiative that was acquired by drug firm Pfizer in May 2019 for up to $810m. The spinout’s executive team includes several members of Therachon’s former senior leadership, while Tom Woiwode, managing director at Versant Ventures, has been appointed as its board chairman. Woiwode said: “Neglected conditions like SBS represent tremendous opportunities to innovate and provide patients with much-needed therapies, and with the support of our investors, the VectivBio team has all the expertise to advance our lead program, apraglutide, as a potential best-in-class treatment for this condition.”

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