AnaCardio Advances Heart Failure Research with New Funding Round
AnaCardio, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Stockholm, has announced the completion of a EUR 17.8 million Series A extension aimed at furthering its efforts in developing new heart failure treatments. The financing round was co-led by Novo Holdings, Pureos Bioventures, and Sound Bioventures, while existing investors Flerie, Industrifonden, and Fredrik and Ann-Helene Ljungstrom also participated.

AnaCardio, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Stockholm, has announced the completion of a EUR 17.8 million Series A extension aimed at furthering its efforts in developing new heart failure treatments. The financing round was co-led by Novo Holdings, Pureos Bioventures, and Sound Bioventures, while existing investors Flerie, Industrifonden, and Fredrik and Ann-Helene Ljungstrom also participated. The infusion of capital will be directed toward the advancement of AC01, the company’s leading drug candidate designed to address Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF).
Founded in 2017 by Lars Lund, AnaCardio is built upon research originating at Karolinska Institutet, where initial findings pointed toward a unique mechanism to enhance cardiac muscle contractility in heart failure patients. Since then, the privately held company has concentrated its resources on exploring how this mechanism can be translated into an effective, first-in-class oral therapy. According to corporate statements, the latest funding will accelerate ongoing and upcoming clinical trials, which are expected to further evaluate the clinical profile of AC01 in patients with reduced ejection fraction.
Patrik Stromberg, CEO of AnaCardio, reflected on the progress and the new investment when noting, “This is a landmark day for AnaCardio, where we report a significant financing round, welcome three prominent new investors, and announce the positive outcome of the first study with AC01 in patients. We now have the data and funding to accelerate the further clinical development of our first-in-class inotrope to improve the lives of patients with heart failure.” The statement underlines how the secured financing, along with recent clinical data, will be utilized in moving forward with comprehensive research on AC01.
The company’s flagship candidate, AC01, is described as a novel oral ghrelin receptor agonist that may enhance cardiac contractility without triggering negative side effects often linked to traditional inotropes. Early studies suggested that conventional treatments can be associated with tachycardia, arrhythmias, ischemia, or hypotension. By contrast, the mechanism of AC01 is intended to improve heart function while keeping undesirable cardiovascular complications in check.
Further details about the compound’s development will come from the phase 1b/2a GOAL-HF1 trial, which includes a 28-day extension set for early 2025. Preliminary outcomes from prior stages hinted at the drug’s potential to maintain a favorable safety profile and boost cardiac contractility. “The study results demonstrate that AC01 is a promising novel inotrope showing signs of increased contractility without adverse effects, such as tachycardia, arrhythmias, ischemia or hypotension which are typically seen with conventional inotropes when administered to patients with heart failure. AC01 proved to be well-tolerated and showed convincing target engagement meriting advancement to the next development stage testing the drug for 28 days to establish proof-of-concept and enable progress to late-stage clinical development,” said Professor Lars Lund, CSO and founder of AnaCardio.
The structure of AnaCardio’s Board of Directors is also changing. Johan Kordel (from Sound Bioventures), Jorgen Soberg Petersen (from Novo Holdings), and Veronica Gambillara Fonck (from Pureos Bioventures) will be joining the board. Additionally, Viktor Drvota, CEO of Karolinska Development, is set to replace Per Aniansson, while Karin Hehenberger, an advisor at 3BFuture Health, will become a board observer.
In remarking on the significance of the company’s research in this therapeutic area, Johan Kordel, Managing Partner at Sound Bioventures, stated, “Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction remains a major unmet medical need, affecting millions of lives worldwide. We are thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking initiative and proud to support the development of a new therapeutic option that has the potential to significantly improve outcomes for patients facing this challenging condition.”