Clinical-stage biotech Elevara Medicines has raised $70 million in Series A financing to advance its novel therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other chronic inflammatory diseases — marking one of Europe’s largest early-stage rounds in immunology this year.
The round was co-led by Forbion and Sofinnova Partners, with participation from founding investor Monograph Capital. The fresh capital will fund Phase 2 clinical trials for Elevara’s lead candidate, ELV001, and support expansion into additional inflammatory and women’s health indications.
“ELV001 has the potential to transform outcomes for RA patients who don’t respond to existing immune-targeted therapies,” said Emma Tinsley, CEO of Elevara Medicines and co-founder of Weatherden. “This financing allows us to accelerate its clinical development and explore broader applications across chronic inflammatory conditions.”
A New Approach to Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
Elevara’s lead asset, ELV001, is a first-in-class oral CDK4/6 inhibitor designed as an add-on therapy for patients whose RA has not responded adequately to methotrexate or TNF inhibitors — two mainstays of current treatment.
Unlike traditional immune-suppressing drugs, ELV001 targets synovial fibroblasts — cells that play a key role in driving inflammation and joint damage — offering a new pathway to disease control while reducing reliance on multiple immunomodulators.
The upcoming START-SYNERGY Phase 2 trial will enroll approximately 180 RA patients across multiple global sites, with recruitment slated to begin before the end of 2025.
“The current standard of care still leaves too many patients short of remission,” said Professor Dominique Baeten, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer at Elevara Medicines. “By focusing on the synovial fibroblast rather than immune cells, ELV001 could work synergistically with approved therapies, reshaping early-line RA treatment.”
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Strategic Partnerships and Strong Backing
Elevara holds exclusive global rights from Teijin Pharma, part of the Teijin Group (TSE: 3401), to develop, manufacture, and commercialize ELV001 — a program built on more than a decade of preclinical and clinical research.
The company was co-founded by Weatherden and Monograph Capital, with a leadership team combining clinical, operational, and scientific depth. The board of directors includes:
- Emma Tinsley (CEO, Elevara)
- Tim Funnell (Monograph Capital)
- Vanessa Carle (Forbion)
- Maina Bhaman (Sofinnova Partners)
- Professor Gijs van den Brink (Independent Director)
“Teijin built an exceptional foundation for ELV001, and Elevara is now ideally positioned to advance it through the next stages of clinical validation,” added Baeten.
Expanding Beyond Rheumatology
Backed by some of Europe’s leading life sciences investors, Elevara plans to use its funding to:
- Advance ELV001 through Phase 2 trials in RA
- Launch exploratory programs in chronic inflammatory and women’s health conditions
- Build data-driven clinical infrastructure to accelerate regulatory and commercial readiness
“Elevara’s approach to modulating disease at the fibroblast level could open a new therapeutic chapter in immunology,” said Vanessa Carle, Partner at Forbion. “We’re proud to support a world-class team tackling one of the largest unmet needs in autoimmune medicine.”
About Elevara Medicines
Elevara Medicines is a London-based clinical-stage biotechnology company developing breakthrough therapies for rheumatoid arthritis and chronic inflammatory diseases. Its lead program, ELV001, is a first-in-class oral CDK4/6 inhibitor targeting synovial fibroblasts — designed as an add-on therapy for patients with incomplete response to current treatments. Elevara aims to redefine care for millions living with chronic inflammation by improving outcomes and reducing dependence on broad immunosuppressive drugs.
