ProteoDesign rebrands as Splice Bio to develop novel gene therapies based on its proprietary intein technology

This pioneering platform has the potential to target genetic diseases that cannot be addressed with current gene therapies.

Ysios Capital and Asabys Partners join the board of directors as new investors

BARCELONA, September 15, 2020 – Splice Bio, a biotech company based on technology developed in the Muir Lab at Princeton University, announced today a new investment into the Company led by Ysios Capital and joined by Asabys Partners from its fund Sabadell Asabys. This financing round was organized thanks to the support of existing shareholder Caixa Capital Risc. ProteoDesign is rebranding as Splice Bio to reflect on its progress with its proprietary intein platform, based on pioneering research by the company’s co-founders, and its new focus on gene therapy.

The proceeds will be used to develop novel gene therapies for patients that suffer from genetic diseases. The company’s proprietary platform technology has the potential to address two existing limitations of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) as vectors for gene therapy, both by increasing the size of the cargo gene that can be delivered and by expanding the range of tissues that can be targeted.

“We are thrilled to have closed this financing round and look forward to developing innovative gene therapies to treat patients that suffer from incurable genetic diseases”, said Miquel Vila-Perelló, CEO of Splice Bio.

“We are very excited with this new investment that aims to tackle two of the hallmarks of gene therapy today. We are looking forward to contributing to build a great company based on this unique product-enabling platform technology”, commented Joël Jean-Mairet, Managing Partner at Ysios Capital.

“Splice Bio stands out from other programs for the quality of its initial data, and we believe the company has all the ingredients in hand to unlock the full potential of gene therapy. We look forward to continuing our work with the team in the development of this promising technology”, said Sylvain Sachot, Principal at Asabys Partners.

The company’s new website can be found at www.splice.bio

About Splice Bio

Splice Bio is a gene therapy company based on technology developed in the Muir Lab at Princeton University. The company is developing novel gene therapies based on its proprietary intein platform technology to treat patients that suffer from incurable genetic diseases. The company’s platform has the potential to address two existing limitations of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), both by increasing the size of the cargo gene that can be delivered and by expanding the range of tissues that can be targeted. www.splice.bio.

About Ysios Capital

Ysios Capital is a leading Spanish venture capital firm that provides private equity financing to early- and mid-stage, highly innovative life science companies that develop disruptive therapeutic products and platform technologies to address clear medical needs. Founded in 2008, Ysios Capital has €346M in assets under management through its three funds, with a team of 15 investment professionals, 5 venture partners, 2 operational partners and offices in San Sebastián and Barcelona. www.ysioscapital.com

About Asabys Partners

Asabys Partners is a venture capital firm specializing in the healthcare sector, founded by Josep Ll. Sanfeliu and Clara Campàs with the participation of Alantra. Its first investment vehicle, Sabadell Asabys Health Innovation Investments SCR, SA, was launched in 2019 and is backed by the Banc Sabadell as reference investor. The fund has a target size of more than €80M and invests in healthcare companies across three verticals: biotech, medtech and digital therapeutics, that have highly innovative and disruptive technologies. The fund’s investment in the company benefits from the financial backing of the European Union under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (“EFSI”) set up under the Investment Plan for Europe. The purpose of EFSI is to help support financing and implementing productive investments in the European Union and to ensure increased access to financing. www.asabys.com

About Caixa Capital Risc

Caixa Capital Risc is CriteriaCaixa’s venture capital management arm. With more than 10 years of experience, it provides equity and participating loans for innovative companies with a high growth potential across three verticals: Life Science, ICTs, and Industrial Technologies. Through nine different investment vehicles, Caixa Capital Risc currently manages a portfolio of 123 innovative companies in Spain and Portugal, for a total volume of 230 million euros. Of these, 24 companies are in the Life Sciences sector, for a total volume of 85 million euros.