AAVantgarde Bio closes $141 million Series B financing round

AAVantgarde Bio has announced the successful closing of a $141 million (€122 million) Series B financing round that was co-led by a new lead, Schroders Capital, as well as existing investors Atlas Venture and Forbion.

According to the company, the funding will support the completion of the clinical PoC of its AAVB-039 CELESTE study assessing safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of AAVB-039 in patients with Stargardt disease across 3 dose levels for Stargardt disease and the completion of the STELLA natural history study. The company is still recruiting for the STELLA study.

It will also go toward supporting the completion of the clinical PoC of the AAVB-081 LUCE phase 1/2 clinical trial for retinitis pigmentosa (RP) secondary to Usher 1B due to a mutation in the MYO7A gene.

AAVantgarde’s AAVB-039 program addresses mutations in the ABCA4 gene, the root genetic cause of Stargardt disease, by delivering the full-length ABCA4 protein, enabling treatment of any patient, regardless of the specific mutation.

Natalia Misciattelli, PhD, CEO of AAVantgarde, commented on the funding in a press release from the company.

“This investment is a strong endorsement of our team, our science, and two clinical IRD programs,” said Misciatteli. “Both programs address the root genetic causes of devastating conditions and offer hope of improvement to patients and families living with progressive vision loss.”

“This financing milestone represents a critical step forward in our ability to bring hope to patients affected by Usher 1B and Stargardt disease, two hereditary retinal disorders with urgent, unmet need, and provides the potential to help these underserved patient populations and improving their lives,” said Peter Kaiser, MD, AAVantgarde board member.

Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted AAvantgarde’s AAVB-039 Orphan Drug Designation (ODD), and the company also received Clinical Trial Authorisation (CTA) approval from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

References:

1. AAVantgarde Closes $141 Million Series B Financing to Advance its Clinical Programs in Stargardt Disease and Usher 1B Syndrome. Published November 3, 2025. Accessed November 3, 2025. https://www.aavantgarde.com/en/news/aavantgarde-closes-141-million-series-b-financing/