Verdiva Bio Launches with £334m Investment to Combat Obesity
Deal News | Jan 10, 2025 | Business Cloud
Verdiva Bio, a new MedTech company based in London, has launched with a substantial £334 million Series A funding aimed at developing treatments for obesity and cardiometabolic disorders. Under the leadership of CEO Khurem Farooq, formerly of Aiolos Bio and Gyroscope Therapeutics, Verdiva Bio aims to create both oral and injectable therapies that offer improved efficacy, tolerability, and patient adherence. This investment round was co-led by Forbion and General Atlantic, with additional support from several healthcare-focused investors including RA Capital Management, OrbiMed, and Lilly Asia Ventures. The company is assembling a strong leadership team with new appointments from respected pharmaceutical companies and aims to bring innovative treatment options to market. As obesity rates continue to rise globally, Verdiva Bio's initiative to provide first-in-class, once-weekly oral treatments could significantly improve patient outcomes and accessibility.
Sectors
- Healthcare
- Biotechnology
- Venture Capital
Geography
- United Kingdom – Verdiva Bio is based in London, making the UK a primary geographical focus for the company's operations and initial market.
- United States – Several participants, such as Dr Mohamed Eid, have previous roles in US-based healthcare companies, indicating a transatlantic element in the company's ethos and potential market.
Industry
- Healthcare – This industry is relevant as Verdiva Bio is focused on developing treatments for obesity, a significant healthcare issue.
- Biotechnology – Verdiva Bio's focus on drug development and biotechnology advancements to combat obesity and related disorders makes this industry classification relevant.
- Venture Capital – The significant Series A investment raised for Verdiva Bio aligns with the venture capital sector, as it involves financing new startups focused on innovative solutions.
Financials
- £334 million – Series A funding raised by Verdiva Bio for the development of obesity treatments.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verdiva Bio | Target company | Company | A new MedTech company focusing on treatments for obesity and cardiometabolic disorders. |
| Khurem Farooq | CEO | Person | Former CEO of Aiolos Bio and Gyroscope Therapeutics, now leading Verdiva Bio. |
| Forbion | Co-lead investor | Company | A life sciences VC firm co-leading the investment round for Verdiva Bio. |
| General Atlantic | Co-lead investor | Company | A growth equity firm co-leading the investment round for Verdiva Bio. |
| RA Capital Management | Investor | Company | Investment firm specializing in health care and life sciences participating in the funding round. |
| OrbiMed | Investor | Company | A healthcare-focused investment firm participating in the funding round. |
| Dr Mohamed Eid | Chief Medical Officer | Person | Joining Verdiva from Boehringer Ingelheim with expertise in cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic medicines. |
| Lilly Asia Ventures | Investor | Company | Life sciences venture capital firm participating in the funding round. |
| LYFE Capital | Investor | Company | Investment firm with a focus on health care innovations participating in the funding round. |
| Mark Pruzanski | Chairman of the Board | Person | A seasoned life sciences executive who previously founded Intercept Pharmaceuticals. |