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§ Private Profile · Via Borgogna, 5, 20122 Milan Italy
Biotech company developing first-in-class biologics for autoimmune disorders, focused on type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease.
Based in Milan, Italy, Enthera is a biotechnology company that develops first-in-class biologics designed to re-establish stem cell capabilities for the treatment of severe autoimmune disorders. The organization primarily focuses on advancing its lead therapeutic candidate, Ent001, through early-stage clinical trials to address type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease, while also planning future expansion into various fibrotic conditions. Operating with a workforce of 21 to 50 employees, the firm has raised a total of $42.4 million in venture capital financing to date. This capitalization includes a $32.8 million Series A funding round, the largest for an Italian biotech company, backed by prominent institutional investors such as Sofinnova Partners, AbbVie Ventures, JDRF T1D Fund, and Roche Finance. Enthera was founded in 2016 by Paolo Fiorina and Francesca D'Addio at the Italian biotech accelerator BiovelocITA.
Enthera has raised $46.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Enthera has raised $46.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
The premise of your query contains an inaccuracy: Enthera is not a technology company—it is a biopharmaceutical company[1][2][3].
Enthera is a biotech company developing first-in-class biologics to transform treatment for autoimmune diseases[1]. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Milan, Italy, the company focuses on two primary indications: Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)[3].
The company's core mission is to preserve and re-establish organ cell function in autoimmune conditions by targeting a novel biological pathway[2]. Rather than managing symptoms, Enthera's therapeutic approach aims to restore the body's own capacity to maintain healthy tissue—a fundamentally different treatment paradigm from existing therapies. The company has raised €35 million in Series A funding, backed by prominent investors including Sofinnova Partners, AbbVie Ventures, Roche Venture Fund, and the JDRF T1D fund[4].
Enthera was founded in 2016 by Prof Paolo Fiorina and Dr Francesca D'Addio through BiovelocITA, an Italian biotech accelerator[4]. The founders brought deep scientific expertise in immunology and regenerative medicine, emerging from research institutions including Boston Children's Hospital and the University of Milan[1]. The company's foundational discovery—a novel pathway (IGFBP3/TMEM219 axis) involved in cell apoptosis—emerged from collaborative academic research that revealed how to restore pancreatic cell function in diabetes[1]. This scientific foundation positioned Enthera to pursue disease-modifying rather than symptomatic treatments from inception.
Enthera operates within the growing movement toward disease-modifying biologics for autoimmune conditions, where unmet medical need remains substantial despite existing immunosuppressive therapies. The company's approach aligns with a broader industry shift from symptom management to functional restoration—leveraging advances in understanding stem cell biology and immune regulation.
The timing is favorable: T1D and IBD affect millions globally with limited curative options, and regulatory pathways for regenerative biologics have matured. Enthera's backing by both traditional VC (Sofinnova) and strategic pharma investors (AbbVie, Roche) reflects confidence in the regenerative medicine thesis. The company represents a model of European biotech innovation, demonstrating that breakthrough science can emerge from academic institutions and accelerators outside traditional pharma hubs.
Enthera stands at an inflection point. With €35 million in funding and Ent001 advancing through clinical development, the company is positioned to generate pivotal efficacy data that could validate the IGFBP3/TMEM219 pathway as a therapeutic target. Success would not only transform treatment for T1D and IBD but could open entirely new indications in fibrotic diseases—a massive market opportunity.
The key variables ahead are clinical trial outcomes, regulatory pathway clarity for regenerative biologics, and potential partnerships or acquisition interest from major pharma. Given the strategic backing from Roche and AbbVie, Enthera has optionality: it can pursue independent development, seek partnerships for specific indications, or become an acquisition target. The company's expansion into early drug discovery suggests ambitions to build a multi-asset pipeline rather than remain a single-program company—a sign of confidence in the underlying platform.
Enthera has raised $46.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $8.0M Series A in January 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2021 | $8M Series A | AbbVie Ventures, Sofinnova Partners | Novo Ventures, Rivervest, Roche Venture Fund, SR ONE, Banca Profilo, Banor SIM, Indaco Venture Partners, JDRF, Carole Nuechterlein | Announced |
| Jul 1, 2020 | $33M Series A | Soffinova Partners, Margarita Chavez | Mott Family Capital, Banca Profilo, Banor SIM, Indaco Venture Partners, JDRF | Announced |
| Jul 1, 2018 | $5M Seed | — | Mott Family Capital, Soffinova Partners | Announced |
Enthera has raised $46.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Enthera's investors include AbbVie Ventures, Sofinnova Partners, Novo Ventures, RiverVest, Roche Venture Fund, SR One, Banca Profilo, Banor SIM, Indaco Venture Partners, JDRF, Carole Nuechterlein, Soffinova Partners.