RCD advises on €11.5m funding round for development of HIV vaccine

RCD – Rousaud Costas Duran advised biotechnology company Aelix Therapeutics on a ‘series A’ funding round of €11.5 million.

A ‘series A’ funding round refers to the first round of financing undergone by a newly created business after it has received seed capital. 

Ysios Capital, a Spanish investment fund, was the main provider of funding. Aelix also received funding from a syndicate of new investors including Johnson & Johnson Innovation and Caixa Capital Risc, the venture capital division of Spanish financial group, ‘la Caixa’.

The funding will be used to support the development of a therapeutic vaccine against HIV infection. Clinical trials are expected to start by third quarter of 2016.

RCD partner Oscar Alegre said the funding round had resulted in the “convergence of the interests of public research, pharmaceutical companies and specialised investors in the sector, both locally and internationally”. He added that the agreement would be a “model for new projects in the future”.