Sofinnova Partners and Gustave Roussy forge strategic alliance to boost oncology startup acceleration in France

13 december 2023

Sofinnova Partners and Gustave Roussy forge strategic alliance to boost oncology startup acceleration in France

The partnership will leverage Gustave Roussy’s cancer research excellence and Sofinnova’s five decades of experience investing in early-stage innovation in the life sciences

The alliance is an integral part of the newly launched Sofinnova Biovelocita Strategy, a pioneering initiative to catalyze innovation in Europe

Sofinnova Partners (“Sofinnova"), a leading European life sciences venture capital firm based in Paris, London, and Milan, and Gustave Roussy, Europe's leading cancer centre and the fourth-ranked in the world, today announced the launch of a strategic collaboration as part of Sofinnova Biovelocita, the first pan-European investment strategy dedicated to the creation and acceleration of biotech startups.

The alliance will accelerate oncology startups spun out of Gustave Roussy's integrated research and bring together their unique strengths to catalyze and fuel the growth of innovative oncology biotech startups. The partnership’s mission is to build a robust ecosystem for startups by harnessing Gustave Roussy’s cutting-edge cancer research capabilities and Sofinnova’s unmatched company creation expertise.

Graziano Seghezzi, Managing Partner of Sofinnova Partners, said: “Gustave Roussy is a European oncology powerhouse, which aligns seamlessly with Sofinnova Biovelocita, our newly launched biotech acceleration strategy. This alliance reaffirms our committement to fostering a thriving French biotech ecosystem.”

Prof. Fabrice Barlesi, General Director of Gustave Roussy and CEO from Gustave Roussy Transfert, said: "Gustave Roussy and Sofinnova will work together to invest in projects focused on the discovery and development of new molecules and innovative technologies led or initiated by Gustave Roussy. Sofinnova's expertise in accelerating innovative startups pairs perfectly with Gustave Roussy Transfert's ability to source and support new innovations from the heart of Gustave Roussy’s ecosystem. Together, we're setting the stage for transformative breakthroughs and we see a horizon where groundbreaking cancer research translates seamlessly into solutions that can redefine patient care globally.”

Sofinnova Biovelocita follows a unique model of innovation dedicated entirely to the creation and acceleration of biotech startups in Europe. It distinguishes itself by the quality of the research organizations it collaborates with, and the experience and caliber of its partners, who not only fund but also create and operate the companies they support. The Sofinnova Biovelocita team will work closely with the best universities and research organizations in Europe to unearth the most promising scientific breakthroughs.

Since its inception in 2000, Gustave Roussy Transfert, Gustave Roussy’s subsidiary dedicated to the development and transfer of technologies, has supported every entrepreneurial initiative that has come out of the institute. Gustave Roussy Transfert now holds a portfolio of 15 companies in fields as varied as biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and nuclear medicine. Gustave Roussy Transfert aims to create and support one or two new oncology startups per year over the next five years within Biovelocita. A first project sourced by Gustave Roussy Transfert and presented to Sofinnova Biovelocita, should soon pass through the investment committee, with a first company inception planned for early 2024.