UK-based respiratory virus therapy developer ReViral closed a $44m series C round on Tuesday led by CR-CP Life Science Fund, an investment vehicle for conglomerates China Resources and Charoen Pokphand Group.
Pharmaceutical firms Novo Holdings and EMS also took part in the round, the latter through its Brace Pharmaceuticals unit, as did Andera Partners, Green Sands Equity, New Leaf Venture Partners, OrbiMed Advisors and Perceptive Advisors.
Founded in 2011, ReViral is working on antiviral medicines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a condition to which children, the elderly and immunodeficient groups are particularly susceptible.
The company’s lead product candidate, a small-molecule drug dubbed RV521, has completed phase 1 clinical trials and demonstrated effectiveness in adult volunteers in phase 2 studies. The funding will go towards its phase 2 clinical development.
Novo subsidiary Novo Ventures and New Leaf Venture Partners co-led ReViral’s $55m series B round in 2018, investing together with Brace Pharma Capital, Perceptive Advisors, Andera Partners and OrbiMed.
OrbiMed and Andera Partners (then known as Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners) had previously co-led a $21m series A round for the company in 2015 that also featured Brace Pharma Capital and Wellcome Trust.
Jason Zhou, managing director and CEO of CR-CP Life Science Fund, has joined ReViral’s board of directors. He said: “We are pleased to invest in ReViral and support their work to develop and commercialise novel therapeutics to treat RSV, a major global health concern.
“We have confidence that ReViral’s world-class management team, strong science and deep clinical expertise will enable ReViral to become a leader in the RSV market.”
