ARTSaVIT is a technology company.
ARTSaVIT has raised $6.0M across 1 funding round.
ARTSaVIT has raised $6.0M in total across 1 funding round.
ARTSaVIT has raised $6.0M in total across 1 funding round.
ARTSaVIT's investors include Forbion.
ARTSaVIT Ltd. is an Israeli biotechnology company developing small molecule mimetics of the ARTS protein to selectively induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells, targeting resistance to apoptosis—a hallmark of most human cancers.[1][4] Co-founded by the University of Haifa's Carmel economic corporation, Carmel Innovations Fund, and Professor Sarit Larisch, the company serves oncology researchers and patients by addressing faulty apoptosis regulation implicated in cancer and other diseases.[1][2] It solves the problem of cancer cell survival by promoting degradation of anti-apoptotic proteins via ARTS mimetics, with early momentum from a $6.3 million Series A financing in January 2016 led by Arkin Bio Ventures and Pontifax, plus participation from M Ventures (Merck Ventures), Carmel Innovation, and Carmel-Haifa University Economic Corporation; this funded its move to the M Ventures Israel BioIncubator in Yavne for advanced R&D.[1][2][3]
ARTSaVIT emerged from Professor Sarit Larisch's research at the University of Haifa, where she identified and characterized the ARTS protein, which uniquely regulates anti-apoptotic proteins by promoting their degradation to trigger apoptosis.[1] This discovery directly led to the company's formation, co-founded by Carmel (University of Haifa's economic corporation), Carmel Innovations Fund, and Prof. Larisch around 2015-2016.[1] Seed funding from Carmel Innovations supported initial R&D, culminating in the pivotal 2016 Series A round that validated the concept and enabled relocation to the M Ventures BioIncubator for scaled development of ARTS mimetics as cancer therapeutics.[1][3]
ARTSaVIT rides the wave of precision oncology, focusing on apoptosis modulation amid rising demand for therapies overcoming cancer drug resistance—a key trend in biotech since the mid-2010s.[1][4] Its timing aligned with growing investor interest in Israeli life sciences innovation, as evidenced by the 2016 funding amid a boom in apoptosis-targeted drugs.[1][3] Market forces like advancing protein degradation technologies (e.g., PROTACs) and the push for selective cell-killing agents favor ARTS mimetics, influencing the ecosystem by contributing to Haifa's bioincubator network and Merck's venture portfolio for potential big-pharma integration.[1][2]
With its 2016 Series A fueling early-stage development, ARTSaVIT is likely advancing toward preclinical milestones or partnerships, though public updates are limited post-funding.[1] Trends like AI-driven drug discovery and next-gen protein degraders could accelerate ARTS mimetics into clinical trials, potentially expanding influence in apoptosis-based cancer therapies. As biotech evolves toward personalized medicine, ARTSaVIT's selective mechanism positions it to shape targeted oncology, building on its strong academic-investor origins for sustained impact.
ARTSaVIT has raised $6.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $6.0M Series A in January 2017.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2017 | $6.0M Series A | Forbion |