London-based Verdiva Bio launches with €398.4M to challenge Ozempic’s reign in obesity treatment

On Thursday, London-based Verdiva Bio Limited, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, announced its launch to focus on developing innovative therapies for obesity and other cardiometabolic disorders.

The company also announced that it has secured $411M (approximately €398.4M) in an oversubscribed Series A funding round co-led by Forbion and General Atlantic.

Other investors, including RA Capital Management, OrbiMed, Logos Capital, Lilly Asia Ventures, and LYFE Capital, participated.

Khurem Farooq, formerly the CEO of Aiolos Bio and Gyroscope Therapeutics, will serve as Chief Executive Officer.

“People living with obesity and its complications deserve better options at each stage of their treatment journey, including oral therapies with less frequent dosing regimens, the potential for improved efficacy and tolerability, and innovative combination therapies in pursuit of healthier weight loss and, equally importantly, maintenance of metabolically healthy weight. We created Verdiva Bio to accelerate the development of differentiated medicines that address these significant unmet medical needs,” says Farooq.

In addition, the company announced the appointment of several other leadership positions, including:

• Dr. Jane Hughes, Chief Scientific Officer, formerly CSO of Aiolos Bio and Gyroscope Therapeutics  
• Dr. Tapan Maniar, Chief Business Officer, formerly CBO of Aiolos Bio and Principal at Bain Capital Life Sciences
• Ashley Taylor, Chief Technology Officer, formerly CTO of Aiolos Bio and Head of Network Strategy at Roche/Genentech

Verdiva Bio: Creating next-generation therapies

Verdiva Bio is focused on creating next-generation therapies to help people with obesity and related health issues achieve better outcomes with more patient-friendly treatments.

The company’s leading therapy, VRB-101, is an oral GLP-1 peptide in clinical development. It has shown strong efficacy in a Phase 1 study in Australia and is suitable for once-weekly dosing.

Verdiva is also developing various amylin molecules and other programs which aim for improved effectiveness, better tolerability, and healthier weight loss.

By utilising advancements in gut-brain biology and their experience in drug development, Verdiva aims to offer innovative treatments that can improve the lives of millions affected by obesity worldwide.

The investors

Based out of Naarden, the Netherlands, Forbion invests in innovative biotech companies, managing approximately €5B across multiple fund strategies that cover all stages of (bio-) pharmaceutical drug development.

The VC invests in companies that are creating new biotechnology products, like alternative proteins and biobased materials.

“We are thrilled to co-lead Verdiva’s Series A financing and support its mission of transforming lives by accelerating innovation in cardiometabolic health,” said Wouter Joustra, General Partner at Forbion.

General Atlantic is a global growth investor with more than four decades of experience providing capital and strategic support for over 520 growth companies throughout its history.

Brett Zbar, Managing Director and Global Head of Life Sciences at General Atlantic says, “With a proven leadership team, a pipeline of potential next-generation oral therapies, and a clear vision for tackling some of the most pressing global health challenges, we both believe Verdiva Bio is well-positioned to deliver groundbreaking innovations and advance these promising therapies through clinical development and beyond.”