Acesion raises EUR 9.1M in series A

Cardiology company Acesion Pharma ApS (Copenhagen, Denmark) raised EUR 9.1 million ($10 million) in a series A round from existing investors Novo Seeds and the Wellcome Trust. CEO Frans Wuite told BioCentury the company hopes to raise an additional EUR 4-EUR 6 million ($4.4-$6.6 million) from new investors in a second close early next year.

Acesion develops compounds to treat atrial fibrillation (AF) by targeting small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels, or SK channels. The company believes its therapies may offer a superior safety profile over existing treatments. COO Ulrik Sorensen said the higher expression of SK channels in atria vs. ventricles reduces the risk of QT prolongation that is a side effect of many AF treatments (see BioCentury, March 18, 2013)...