Versant Ventures invests $30m in Matterhorn Biosciences

The launch is backed by Versant's Switzerland-based Ridgeline Discovery Engine and was formed in partnership with scientists working on the project at the University of Basel, headed by Gennaro De Libero.

Ridgeline was established in 2017 and assists with programmes in partnership with European universities. It has previously launched the companies Black Diamond Therapeutics, Bright Peak Therapeutics and Monte Rosa Therapeutics.

Alex Mayweg, a managing director at Versant, will join the company's board.

Versant Ventures invested via Versant Venture Capital VII, which held a final close in December 2018 on $600m. The fund's latest DACH region investments include biotechnology firm VectivBio and T-cell therapy developer T-knife.

Company
Matterhorn aims to develop cancer treatments based on T-cell therapies focused on MR1T T-cells, which can kill tumours by recognising the MR1 molecule found on malignant cells. The firm is based in Basel. It aims to have started its phase-I clinical trials by the end of 2021.

People
Versant Ventures – Alex Mayweg (managing director); Lucia Mori (chief scientific officer).

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• Topics
• Early-stage
• DACH
• Healthcare
• Venture
• Switzerland