NanoPhoria Bioscience, a next-generation biotech developing inhalable cardiovascular therapies, has raised €83.5 million in a landmark Series A round — the largest ever for an Italian biotech.
The financing was co-led by XGEN Venture, Sofinnova Partners, and CDP Venture Capital, with participation from Panakes Partners and another undisclosed institutional investor. The funds will support the clinical development of NanoPhoria’s lead candidate NP-MP1, a first-in-class heart failure therapy, and further expansion of its Nano-in-Micro (NiM) drug delivery platform.
Pioneering targeted lung-to-heart drug delivery
Founded in 2022, NanoPhoria Bioscience is developing a novel class of non-viral biologic therapeutics designed for targeted delivery to the heart via the lungs. Its proprietary Nano-in-Micro delivery system uses biomimetic calcium-phosphate nanoparticles to carry therapeutic peptides and RNAs directly to cardiomyocytes — a delivery challenge long considered out of reach in cardiovascular medicine.
“This financing is a transformational milestone for NanoPhoria Bioscience,” said Claudio De Luca, CEO and co-founder. “It enables us to accelerate the clinical development of NP-MP1 and expand our pipeline. Our lung-to-heart delivery platform unlocks previously inaccessible cellular targets in the heart, bringing us closer to life-changing treatments for patients suffering from serious cardiac and chronic diseases.”
NanoPhoria’s lead program, NP-MP1, targets L-type calcium channels to restore heart contractility in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) — a condition affecting over 60 million people globally. Delivered through the company’s inhalable nano-delivery technology, the treatment has shown promising preclinical efficacy in improving cardiac output and slowing disease progression.
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Backed by Europe’s leading biotech investors
The €83.5 million Series A places NanoPhoria among Europe’s most well-funded early-stage cardiovascular biotech startups in 2025. Investors cite the platform’s ability to reach cardiac tissue directly and its potential to unlock new modalities in precision medicine.
“NanoPhoria’s platform has the potential to redefine treatment paradigms in cardiovascular and other chronic diseases,” said Henrijette Richter, Managing Partner at Sofinnova Partners. “Our continued support reflects Sofinnova’s commitment to world-class science and our belief that Italy can be a powerhouse for biotech innovation.”
Paolo Fundarò, Managing Partner at XGEN Venture, added:
“This investment perfectly aligns with XGEN’s mission to back high-impact Italian startups addressing real unmet medical needs. NanoPhoria’s approach offers a groundbreaking way to deliver potent biologics directly to the heart, and we’re thrilled to partner with this outstanding team and syndicate.”
Accelerating clinical development and global expansion
With this new capital, NanoPhoria Bioscience will advance NP-MP1 through IND-enabling studies and early clinical trials, while scaling its Nano-in-Micro platform for additional therapeutic areas, including pulmonary hypertension and metabolic cardiomyopathies.
The company plans to expand its operations and research capabilities in Milan and beyond, solidifying Italy’s position on the European biotech map.
“This milestone reflects the belief of world-class investors in NanoPhoria’s mission to transform drug delivery for the hardest-to-treat diseases,” added De Luca. “We are entering a new era where targeted, inhalable biologics could change the way we treat heart failure and many other chronic conditions.”
About NanoPhoria Bioscience
Founded in 2022, NanoPhoria Bioscience is a Milan-based biotechnology company pioneering targeted, inhalable therapies using its proprietary Nano-in-Micro delivery platform. The company’s mission is to revolutionize the treatment of cardiovascular and chronic diseases by enabling tissue-specific delivery of peptides and RNA-based drugs.
NanoPhoria is advancing its lead candidate NP-MP1, a first-in-class treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), toward clinical development.
