Swedish pharmaceutical company Gesynta Pharma has completed a second closing of its Series B funding round, raising an additional SEK 43 million ($3.9 million) to bring the total Series B capital to SEK 347 million ($31.5 million). HealthCap and Hadean Growth Fund joined the round as new investors, with Innovestor Life Science continuing as lead investor.
The funding will support preparation for a Phase 3 program of vipoglanstat, the company’s non-hormonal drug candidate for endometriosis treatment. Endometriosis affects 190 million women globally and impacts one in ten women of reproductive age, causing chronic pain and potentially leading to infertility.
Gesynta Pharma is preparing a Phase 2 clinical trial for vipoglanstat, which targets mPGES-1, an enzyme found in endometriotic lesions. The upcoming proof-of-concept study will include approximately 190 patients across several European countries and is expected to begin in 2025.
“It is with great enthusiasm that we join this robust investor syndicate, dedicated to addressing a significant unmet medical need,” said Kristina Ekberg, partner at HealthCap. “This investment reflects our strong confidence in Gesynta Pharma’s vision and its potential to deliver a genuine breakthrough in women’s health.”
The company’s research originated at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Preclinical data shows vipoglanstat significantly reduces both endometrial lesions and pain-related parameters. The drug candidate has demonstrated a favorable safety profile and potent mPGES-1 inhibition in Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials.
Current endometriosis treatments are often inadequate due to side effects, creating demand for alternatives. Vipoglanstat offers a non-hormonal, non-opioid approach that the company describes as disease-modifying.
“This Series B second closing, reinforced by the commitment of new investors HealthCap and Hadean Growth Fund, accelerates our mission to deliver vipoglanstat as an innovative, non-hormonal solution for endometriosis patients,” said Roger Franklin, Chairman of Gesynta Pharma and partner at Hadean Ventures.
The funding round also brings three new board members: Kristina Ekberg from HealthCap, and independent directors Cristina Csimma and David Colpman.
Gesynta Pharma’s portfolio includes a second drug candidate, GS-073, which is ready to enter Phase 1 clinical trials for chronic inflammatory pain treatment. The company’s investor base includes Nordic, European and US investors such as Hadean Ventures, Industrifonden, Innovestor Life Science, Linc, HealthCap, Foreground Capital, and Amboy Street Ventures.
