Sofinnova leads €15m round for Pixium

Pixium previously raised €9m in a round led by Omnes that also included Abingworth, Global Life Science Venture and Polytechnos Venture Partners.

This fresh capital injection will allow Pixium to further develop its intelligent retinal implantable system (Iris) product range. The first generation of Pixium's Iris devices entered clinical study in April this year and the company is aiming to obtain CE marking by December.

BPI invested in the company via the InnoBio fund, a €139m vehicle focused on investments in the life sciences industry.

Company
Headquartered in Paris, Pixium was founded in 2011 as a spinout from Vision Institute and Université Pierre et Marie Curie. The company's Iris devices are designed to improve the vision of people who have lost their sight through degenerative conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration.

Pixium currently employs 22 staff and is still in its research and development phase, so is not yet generating revenue.

People
Bernard Gilly is the chairman and CEO of Pixium. Gilly co-founded the company alongside José-Alain Sahel. Sofinnova managing partner Antoine Papiernik and BPI investment director Chahra Louafi have joined the company's board of directors.

Abingworth partner Tim Haines and Alexia Perouse, a life sciences partner at Omnes and co-head of the firm's venture capital team, both sit on Pixium's board of directors already.

Advisers
Equity (Sofinnova): Chammas & Marcheteau, Denis Marcheteau, Camille Hurel (Legal); Foley & Larder, Nick Pisano (Legal).
Company - RedLink, Emmanuelle Porte, Sylvie Hamel (Legal).

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• Topics
• France
• Early-stage
• Healthcare
• France
• Sofinnova Partners
• Abingworth Management
• Omnes Capital
• Global Life Science Ventures