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Novo Holdings Invests in Windward Bio

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The Swiss company is focused on developing treatments for respiratory conditions, such as asthma and COPD.

Stock.adobe.com

Stock.adobe.com

Novo Holdings announced an investment in a $200M Series A launch financing for Swiss company Windward Bio.1 The clinical stage drug development company is developing treatments for immunological diseases with a focus on severe respiratory conditions, such as asthma and COPD.

Windward Bio is in the process of launching Phase II trials for WIN378, a monoclonal antibody targeting the ligand of thymic stromal lymphopoietin. Results from the study are expected to be delivered in 2026, and additional studies for further indications are also in the works.

In a press release, Windward Bio’s founder, CEO, and chairman Luca Santarelli, MD, said, “Our mission in starting Windward Bio is to discover and develop novel therapeutics for people living with serious immunological conditions. Targeting the TSLP ligand is a highly validated approach in multiple immunological conditions, and WIN378 represents a significant advance in TSLP therapy by enhancing the benefits of this class with a dosing regimen of every six months, which can reduce the burden of treatment and improve outcomes for people living with severe asthma."

In the same press release, Novo Holdings senior partner Naveed Siddiq added, “Addressing the unmet needs of patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma and COPD, particularly through innovative therapies that reduce the burden of care for both individuals and healthcare systems, represents a meaningful advancement in respiratory care. WIN378, with its best-in-class potential to provide effective treatment through a six-month dosing regimen, could transform how these challenging conditions are managed, offering both clinical and practical benefits. At Novo Holdings, we are committed to supporting innovative approaches that improve patient outcomes. We are excited to partner once again with the management team of Windward Bio, serial entrepreneurs with a proven track record of success."

Novo Holdings also recently announced a nearly $110M investment in series A financing for Orbis Medicines, a biotech focused on oral macrocycle drug discovery.2

In a press release issued earlier this month, Novo Holdings principal Joao Ribas said, “The benefits of an oral format include dose control, convenience, ease of dosing, and feasibility for much larger populations of patients. Orbis is leveraging macrocycles to unlock these benefits in major areas validated by existing biologics, and we are proud to have played an integral role in shaping the company from its earliest stages. The combination of automated chemical synthesis, high-throughput assays, and machine learning ignited our enthusiasm and drove us to start collaborating to build Orbis before its first financing round. We congratulate Morten on his appointment and the team on their successes to-date and look forward to advancing the future of macrocycles."

In November of last year, Novo Holdings also announced the acquisition of Benchmark Genetics, a Norwegian fish genetics company.3 In a press release issued at the time, Novo Holdings partner in planetary health investments Aleks Engel said, “We are very pleased to announce plans to acquire the Benchmark Genetics business from Benchmark Holdings. Both animal and plant genetics hold immense potential to transform the global food industry, enabling more efficient and sustainable ways to feed a growing population. In particular, advancements in aquaculture genetics, such as those in the salmon industry, present significant opportunities to improve productivity, resilience, and environmental outcomes."

Sources

  1. Novo Holdings Invests in $200M Series A for Windward Bio Launch to Advance Long-Acting Treatments for Asthma and COPD. Novo Holdings. January 10, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novo-holdings-invests-in-200m-series-a-for-windward-bio-launch-to-advance-long-acting-treatments-for-asthma-and-copd-302348007.html
  2. Novo Holdings Participates in €90 Million Series A Financing Round for Orbis Medicines to Support Development of Oral Macrocycle Drugs. Novo Holdings. January 6, 2025. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novo-holdings-participates-in-90-million-series-a-financing-round-for-orbis-medicines-to-support-development-of-oral-macrocycle-drugs-302342187.html
  3. Novo Holdings to Acquire Benchmark Genetics, a Leader in Aquaculture Genetics. Novo Holdings. November 25, 2024. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novo-holdings-to-acquire-benchmark-genetics-a-leader-in-aquaculture-genetics-302315278.html
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