About

AAVantgarde is a clinical stage, biotechnology company advancing best-in-class therapies for patients with inherited retinal diseases. With a strong foundation in translational science and a commitment to clinical excellence, AAVantgarde is working to bring transformative therapies to patients.

Our mission

AAVantgarde's mission is to restore visual function and halt disease progression for patients with inherited retinal disorders (IRDs) by next-generation therapies.

Our history

AAVantgarde is a spin-off of Telethon Institute for Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), an international research institute based in Naples that is owned and managed by the Telethon Foundation, and of the University of Naples "Federico II". 

AAVantgarde was founded by Professor Alberto Auricchio, a highly recognized scientist and a pioneer in the field of gene therapy.  As well as being Founder and CSO of AAVantgarde, Professor Auricchio is TIGEM Scientific Director and Professor of Medical Genetics at University “Federico II” in Naples, Italy. He is co-author of over 150 peer-reviewed publications, inventor of several patents related to the use of viral vectors for gene therapy and has received the Outstanding New Investigator Award of the American Society of Gene Therapy and the International Prize for Scientific Research “Arrigo Recordati. He is currently President of the European Society for Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT). 

Investors

AAVantgarde is currently funded by a $141 Million Series B financing which was co-led by Schroders, Atlas Venture and Forbion, with participation from the Company’s Series A investors, Sofinnova Partners-Telethon fund and Longwood Fund and new investors Amgen Ventures, Athos KG, CDP Venture Capital, Columbia IMC, Neva SGR, Sixty Degree Capital, Willett Advisors and XGen Venture.

AAVantgarde was co-founded by Professor Alberto Auricchio and originated from the research activities carried out at TIGEM (Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine) and supported by a seed round in June 2021 led by Sofinnova Partners Telethon fund followed by a €61 million Series A closed in June 2023 co-led by Atlas Venture and Forbion with participation from Sofinnova Partners-Telethon Fund and Longwood fund.

Since 2004, Amgen Ventures has invested in healthcare innovation to advance breakthrough medicines and technologies that will bring transformative medicines to patients. The team’s focus is on emerging, early-stage companies, which is a critical part of the biotech ecosystem. 

With its heritage in healthcare and life sciences, ATHOS is a single-family office that supports entrepreneurs to positively impact health and well-being. Known to the broader public as the long-term majority investor of BioNTech, ATHOS remains committed to advancing medical innovation and building transformative companies for the future.

Atlas Venture is a leading biotech venture capital firm. With the goal of doing well by doing good, we have been building breakthrough biotech startups for over 30 years. We work side by side with exceptional scientists and entrepreneurs to translate high impact science into medicines for patients.

Our seed-led venture creation strategy rigorously selects and focuses investment on the most compelling opportunities to build scalable businesses and realize value.  

CDP Venture Capital is an asset management company where CDP Equity holds a 70% stake and Invitalia a 30% stake. It was set up with the goal of making Venture Capital a cornerstone of Italy’s economic development and innovation, creating the conditions for the overall, sustainable growth of the entire innovation ecosystem.

CDP Venture Capital manages 15 investment funds, amounting to over EUR 4,7 billion in resources that support innovative companies at all stages of their life cycle, making both direct and indirect investments (funds of funds).

The Columbia Investment Management Company (IMC) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia University. The IMC is charged with managing the bulk of the University's endowments, also known as managed assets. The formation of the IMC symbolizes the University's dedication and commitment to the long term investment management of the endowment with the highest professional standards. 

Fondazione Telethon (the Telethon Foundation) is a major biomedical charity in Italy whose mission is to advance biomedical research to cure rare genetic diseases.

Throughout its 32 years of activity, Fondazione Telethon has invested almost €600 million in funding over 2,700 projects to study 580 diseases, involving more than 1,600 researchers in Italy.

As part of its goal to foster development and maximize the therapeutic impact of research, Fondazione Telethon further pursues cooperation with academia, industry, and venture capital through the creation of partnerships and start-ups.

TIGEM is a Telethon Foundation research centre in Pozzuoli, near Naples, and comprises several research groups and over 200 staff members, all dedicated to understanding the molecular mechanisms behind rare genetic diseases and developing novel treatments.

Forbion is a leading global venture capital firm with deep roots in Europe and offices in Naarden, the Netherlands, Munich, Germany, and Boston, USA. Forbion invests in innovative biotech companies, managing approximately €5 billion across multiple fund strategies covering all stages of (bio)pharmaceutical drug development. In addition to its human health focus, Forbion also invests in planetary health solutions through its BioEconomy strategy.

The firm’s team of over 30 investment professionals has a strong track record, with more than 130 investments across 11 funds, resulting in numerous approved therapies and successful exits. Forbion is a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment and operates a joint venture with BGV for seed and early-stage investments in the Benelux and Germany regions.

Longwood Fund is a venture capital firm dedicated to creating and investing in novel healthcare companies that develop important treatments to help patients while generating significant value for investors.

The Longwood team has a long history of successfully launching and building important life science companies while providing operational leadership and strategic guidance. Collectively, the Partners at Longwood Fund have co-founded 25 companies with over 20 launched or marketed drugs and therapies, as well as over two dozen clinical stage assets, all focused on helping patients in need.

Companies founded by Longwood Fund, or its principals prior to the founding of the Firm, as lead investor and CEO/CBO include Acceleron, Momenta, Alnylam, Vertex, Sirtris, TScan, Pyxis Oncology, Immunitas, Be Biopharma, Photys, Carbon Biosciences, DEM BioPharma, and Newleos. 

NEVA SGR is the venture-capital arm of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group — wholly owned by the Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center — dedicated to identifying, investing in and scaling the next generation of highly innovative companies that are addressing some of the world’s biggest challenges. Since its founding in 2020, NEVA SGR has backed breakthrough companies across four core domains: Climate Tech & Energy Transition, Life Sciences, Digital Transformation, and Aerospace & Manufacturing. 

NEVA SGR leverages the financial strength, reputation and network of Intesa Sanpaolo, combined with the best practices of international venture capital, to provide strategic capital, market access, and operational support to its portfolio companies. NEVA SGR is also distinguished by its commitment to sustainability and impact: backing companies that deliver both strong growth potential and meaningful contributions to society and the planet. 

Sofinnova Partners is a leading European venture capital firm in life sciences, specializing in healthcare and sustainability. Based in Paris, London, and Milan, the firm brings together a team of professionals from all over the world with strong scientific, medical, and business expertise. Sofinnova Partners is a hands-on company builder across the entire value chain of life sciences investments, from seed to later-stage.

The firm actively partners with ambitious entrepreneurs as a lead or cornerstone investor to develop transformative innovations that have the potential to positively impact our collective future.
Founded in 1972, Sofinnova Partners is deeply established in Europe, with 50 years of experience backing over 500 companies and creating market leaders around the globe. Today, Sofinnova Partners manages over €4 billion in assets. 

Schroders Capital provides investors with access to a broad range of private market investment opportunities, portfolio building blocks and customised private market strategies. Its team focuses on delivering best-in-class, risk-adjusted returns and executing investments through a combination of direct investment capabilities and broader solutions in all private market asset classes, through comingled funds and customised private market mandates. 
The team aims to achieve sustainable returns through a rigorous approach and in alignment with a culture characterised by performance, collaboration and integrity.   
  
With $111 billion (£81 billion; €94.5 billion)* assets under management, Schroders Capital offers a diversified range of investment strategies, including real estate, private equity, secondaries, venture capital, infrastructure, securitised products and asset-based finance, private debt, insurance-linked securities and BlueOrchard (Impact Specialists).  
*Assets under management as at 30 June 2025 (including non-fee earning dry powder and in-house cross holdings)  

Sixty Degree Capital (SDC) is a global venture capital firm headquartered in Toronto, dedicated to advancing innovation at the intersection of healthcare and technology.

SDC partners with visionary entrepreneurs developing transformative therapeutics and healthcare solutions that have the potential to redefine standards of patient care. Through strategic guidance, deep industry expertise, and a world-class network, SDC empowers its portfolio companies to navigate complex challenges and translate breakthrough science into impactful products. 

Willett Advisors LLC (“Willett”) manages the philanthropic assets of Michael R. Bloomberg, including the assets of Bloomberg Philanthropies. The firm has its headquarters in New York. The firm’s objective is to achieve long-term capital appreciation through the construction of a diversified investment portfolio. Willett employs a flexible approach and has the ability, both through selected third-party managers and directly, to invest in a broad range of asset classes in order to achieve its goals. Similar to many endowments, foundations and family offices, Willett has historically focused on the following areas: public markets, hedge funds, private equity and credit, real assets and direct investments. 

XGEN Venture is a premier venture capital firm dedicated to advancing innovations in the life sciences sector. With nearly two decades of experience, the founding team has a proven track record of building breakthrough life sciences startups in Italy and internationally. XGEN is currently investing out of its first fund, XGEN Venture Life Science Fund, launched in 2022, and focusing on early-stage investments across biotechnology, medical devices, and diagnostics.