Asceneuron raises CHF30 million series A round

Neurology company Asceneuron S.A. (Lausanne, Switzerland) raised CHF30 million ($30.7 million) in a series A round led by new investor Sofinnova Partners. Also participating were new investors SR One; Kurma Partners; and Johnson & Johnson Innovation-JJDC Inc.; as well as existing investor MS Ventures.

In 2012, Asceneuron was spun out of the Merck Serono S.A. unit of Merck KGaA (Xetra:MRK) with a EUR 5 million ($6.4 million) seed investment from MS Ventures to develop preclinical neurology programs targeting microtubule-associated protein-tau (TAU; MAPT; FTDP-17) and beta amyloid (see BioCentury Extra, Oct. 2, 2012). ...