Orbis: Novo Holdings Guides €90 Million Series A Funding to Propel Macrocycle Drug Innovation
Deal News | Jan 06, 2025 | PR Newswire Cision Novo Holdings
In a significant funding move, Novo Holdings has announced its participation in a €90 million Series A financing round for Orbis Medicines, an innovative company focused on developing oral macrocycle drugs. This investment, led by New Enterprise Associates, also includes contributions from Eli Lilly and Company, Cormorant, the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark, and Forbion. Orbis, founded in 2021, aims to revolutionize drug discovery with its nGen platform, which combines automation and machine learning to enhance the design of macrocycles. Morten Graugaard of Novo Holdings has been appointed as the new CEO of Orbis to lead the efforts in transforming these compounds into viable oral drugs. Orbis operates from Copenhagen and Lausanne, and its work has already been validated in prestigious scientific journals. Novo Holdings continues to support pioneering ventures in life sciences, emphasizing long-term returns and global health improvements.
Sectors
- Biotechnology
- Investment
- Pharmaceuticals
Geography
- Denmark – Denmark is significant as Novo Holdings is headquartered in Copenhagen, and it plays a key role in the financing of Orbis Medicines.
- Switzerland – Switzerland is relevant as Orbis Medicines has a location in Lausanne and involves research contributions from EPFL.
Industry
- Biotechnology – The development and innovation of oral macrocycle drugs by Orbis Medicines place the company in the biotechnology sector, focusing on advanced therapeutic solutions.
- Investment – Novo Holdings' significant financial participation in Orbis Medicines' Series A round reflects the broader investment industry, particularly in life sciences.
- Pharmaceuticals – The focus on drug development aligns Orbis Medicines with the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in creating new delivery methods for biologics.
Financials
- €90 million – Series A financing round amount raised by Orbis Medicines with participation from several investors.
- EUR 149 billion – Total assets managed by Novo Holdings as of year-end 2023, highlighting its investment capacity.
- EUR 26 million – Amount raised in Orbis Medicines' previous series seed round in 2024.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orbis Medicines | Target Company | Company | Orbis Medicines is a biotech company focused on developing oral macrocycle drugs, employing innovative technologies for drug discovery. |
| Novo Holdings | Investor | Company | An investment company managing assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, actively involved in life sciences investment. |
| New Enterprise Associates | Lead Investor | Company | A leading venture capital firm that led the €90 million Series A funding round for Orbis Medicines. |
| Eli Lilly and Company | Investor | Company | A major pharmaceutical company participating in the Series A financing round for Orbis Medicines. |
| Cormorant | Investor | Company | An investment firm contributing to the Series A round for Orbis Medicines. |
| Export and Investment Fund of Denmark | Investor | Company | A financial institution providing investment in the Series A round for Orbis Medicines. |
| Forbion | Investor | Company | A life sciences venture capital firm that co-led the seed round and participated in the Series A for Orbis Medicines. |
| Morten Graugaard | CEO | Person | Recently appointed CEO of Orbis Medicines, previously served as Executive Chair of the Board. |
| Professor Christian Heinis | Research Contributor | Person | Contributed to the foundational science for Orbis Medicines' macrocycle drug discovery at EPFL. |
| Sevan Habeshian | Research Contributor | Person | Involved in the pioneering efforts at EPFL that underpin Orbis Medicines' technology. |
| João Ribas | Principal at Novo Holdings | Person | Provided operational and strategic support to Orbis Medicines alongside Morten Graugaard. |