Many life sciences startups face the same uphill battle — groundbreaking ideas stalled by limited funding and lack of specialized support. Now, Sofinnova Partners, a leading European venture capital firm, is stepping in to change that.
This week, the firm announced the final close of its Sofinnova Biovelocita II Fund, securing €165 million — surpassing its original target. The fund drew significant backing from global pharmaceutical giants like Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Pfizer Ventures.
With this new capital, Sofinnova is expanding its biotech acceleration strategy beyond Italy, targeting startup ecosystems in France, the UK, and Denmark — and planning more country expansions across Europe.
Founded in 1972 in Paris, Sofinnova was created to bring Silicon Valley-style venture capital to Europe. Over the past five decades, it has become one of the most influential investors in life sciences, backing pioneering therapies from Alzheimer’s treatments to next-gen fibrosis drugs.
With offices in Paris, London, and Milan, Sofinnova blends scientific, medical, and operational expertise. The firm doesn’t just fund startups — it helps build them from the ground up, guiding entrepreneurs from the seed stage through scale-up.
Today, Sofinnova manages over €4 billion in assets and boasts a track record of supporting more than 500 companies — many of which have grown into market leaders.
Spearheaded by partners Gabriella Camboni, Matthieu Coutet, Alex Leech, and Zhizhong Joel Yao, Sofinnova Biovelocita II is now Europe’s largest pan-European biotech accelerator fund.
Since launch, the fund has reviewed more than 300 projects, investing in standout biotech ventures across the continent. Early wins include:
BioClec — pioneering breakthrough therapies for Alzheimer’s disease
Forth Therapeutics — a University of Edinburgh spinout developing precision fibrosis treatments
Signadori Bio — a novel cell therapy platform born from research at France’s Gustave Roussy Institute
Each startup reflects Sofinnova’s focus on transformative science capable of reshaping healthcare.
The strong demand from pharma giants and global investors underscores Sofinnova’s unique approach. By combining capital with operational expertise, the firm helps startups tackle the toughest hurdles — from clinical development to commercialization.
Graziano Seghezzi, Managing Partner at Sofinnova, shared:
“Building on the success of Biovelocita I in Italy, we’ve now expanded across Europe. Surpassing our fundraising goal shows there’s real demand for this model — one designed to fuel biotech innovation and support visionary entrepreneurs shaping the future of healthcare.”
With its latest fund, Sofinnova strengthens its role as a lifeline for biotech entrepreneurs across Europe. The firm’s growing footprint — backed by decades of expertise and deep industry networks — positions it to launch even more high-impact biotech startups in the years ahead.
As Europe doubles down on healthcare innovation, Sofinnova’s strategy ensures the region’s most promising therapies don’t just stay in the lab — they reach patients worldwide.
