AnaCardio raises €62.5 million to advance heart failure therapy

AnaCardio, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm, has secured €62.5 million ($70.5 million) in Series B funding to advance its lead heart failure candidate, AC01. The financing round was co-led by Novo Holdings and the Ljungström family office, with participation from several investors including Helsinn, Pureos Bioventures, and Sound Bioventures.

The capital is intended to fully fund the Phase 2b GOAL-HF2 study, which aims to enroll approximately 400 patients across 100 sites in 12 countries. AC01 is an oral ghrelin receptor agonist designed to treat chronic advanced heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) by improving cardiac contractility through a calcium-sensitizing mechanism.

Following Phase 1b/2a results that showed improvements in cardiac output and ejection fraction, the company plans to move toward Phase 3 readiness by 2028. AnaCardio has already received positive scientific advice from both the FDA and the EMA regarding the development of the asset.