Revier Therapeutics, a BioTech startup based in Heidelberg, has officially launched with €6 million in Seed funding. The company is developing new treatments for people with cardiometabolic diseases.

The company is focused on creating therapies that could change the course of cardiometabolic diseases, rather than simply managing their symptoms.

The Seed funding round was led by KHAN Technology Transfer Fund II. High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), VORNvc and private investors through Revier Invest Heidelberg also took part in the round.

Prof. Eva van Rooij, PhD, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Revier Therapeutics, said, “Despite significant progress in cardiovascular medicine, millions of patients with HFpEF (heart failure with preserved ejection fraction) and ASCVD (atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease) still to date face limited targeted treatment options. We believe the next generation of cardiometabolic medicines needs to address the underlying disease-driving biology to deliver impactful and long-term solutions for patients.

Revier Therapeutics has developed a new treatment approach that targets a specific group of enzymes called class IIa histone deacetylases (HDACs). The company is working on treatments for cardiometabolic diseases.

Its medicines are designed as oral small-molecule drugs. They aim to block the harmful activity of these enzymes while allowing their healthy functions to continue. This could help avoid some of the problems linked to traditional HDAC treatments.

HDACs are enzymes that are involved in several serious diseases. Revier Therapeutics is developing a range of new treatments, starting with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Prof. Johannes Backs, MD, scientific founder of Revier Therapeutics, added, “While first generation HDAC inhibitors broadly targeted multiple HDAC classes resulting in dose-limiting side effects, Revier’s first-in-class small molecules selectively target class IIa HDACs. These compounds specifically inhibit the disease-driving enzymatic activity while preserving the essential functions of class IIa HDACs and canonical class I HDACs. This precise mode of action is designed to be therapeutically effective while maintaining a beneficial safety profile.”

“Revier’s differentiated class IIa HDAC strategy in cardiometabolic disease has the potential to unlock the therapeutic promise of HDAC biology while overcoming limitations associated with earlier class I HDAC approaches. Combined with an exceptional leadership team and deep scientific expertise, the company has a unique opportunity to deliver disease-modifying medicines and reshape the standard of care by providing durable benefit for patients with HFpEF, ASCVD and related cardiometabolic disorders,” said Michael Hamacher, PhD, Managing Partner and CFO at KHAN Technology Transfer Fund II.

Revier Therapeutics will use the new funding to develop its early-stage treatments for cardiometabolic diseases. This includes its main programme for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and its second programme for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

The funding will also help the company expand its operations, scientific team and clinical capabilities as it moves its drug programmes forward.