Company name: NanoPhoria
EU Contribution: € 2 499 999
Location: Italy
NanoPhoria Bioscience is leading the development of innovative inhalable treatments for cardiovascular diseases by integrating advanced biologic drugs with a unique nanoparticle-mediated delivery platform. Their novel lung-to-heart nano-in-micro peptide formulation has the potential to transform the treatment of Heart Failure with reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF), a chronic and largely unmet medical need that affects millions globally and carries higher mortality and morbidity rates.
Vision & ImpactNanoPhoria develops targeted therapies for widespread diseases. Our lead product, NP‑MP1, aims to be the first disease‑modifying drug for HFrEF. Our adaptable non‑viral nanoparticle platform delivers biologics directly to diseased organ cells, enhancing safety and efficacy.
CollaborationNanophoria received €2.5M in EIC Accelerator grant and €15M equity support, enabling scale up of our novel lung-to-heart nano-in-micro peptide formulation. Thanks in part to EIC backing, we closed a Series A to advance clinical translation of our peptide therapies and aim to enter the clinic.
What's next ?We plan to start the first-in-human phase 1 clinical studies for our lead programme shortly, and then progress to phase 2 to demonstrate clinical efficacy. Beyond this, we are excited to leverage novel features of our unique drug delivery platform and develop additional therapies.
EIC funding is enabling NanoPhoria to do more, faster. By accelerating Nanophoria’s clinical development processes the EIC is directly contributing towards the building of a pharmaceutical asset that could save the lives of millions of patients worldwide. This is why we are so grateful to receive EIC backing.
NanoPhoria's Timeline
- February 2022NanoPhoria was founded
NanoPhoria was founded by Daniele Catalucci, Michele Iafisco, Alessio Alogna, and Claudio De Luca, as a spin-off from the National Research Council of Italy (CNR)
- April 2022NanoPhoria granted patent licences
NanoPhoria granted exclusive patent licences for its Nano-in-Micro, Lung-to-Heart delivery platform, and its therapeutic peptide
- May 2022NanoPhoria receives seed funding
NanoPhoria receives €3.5m seed funding from the Sofinnova Telethon Fund
- October 2022NanoPhoria publishes research
NanoPhoria publishes research in the Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology demonstrating the potency of dry powder inhalation technology
- November 2022Alessio Alogna presents inhalation-based approach
Alessio Alogna, one of the founders, presents our inhalation-based approach to treat HFrEF in a large animal model at the American Heart Association’s annual Scientific Sessions event
- January 2024NanoPhoria publishes milestone paper in the Journal of American College of Cardiology
NanoPhoria publishes milestone paper in the peer-reviewed Journal of American College of Cardiology, demonstrating NP-MP1’s ability to improve ejection fraction by 17% ±6% in pig models, while also improving other cardiovascular markers. This was supported by a further journal editorial piece which highlighted the paper’s significance
- January 2024New non-executive members to the Board of Directors
Dr Suman Shirodkar as chair and Prof. Michael Davidson as non-executive member of our Board of Directors
- February 2025NanoPhoria awarded €17.5m
NanoPhoria awarded €17.5m by the European Innovation Council’s Accelerator Program, making it the only Italian biotech to receive such an award
- October 2025NanoPhoria secures €83.5m Italian Series A Biotech
NanoPhoria sets the record for the largest ever Italian Series A Biotech raise, securing €83.5m. The round was led by XGEN Venture, Sofinnova Partners, and CDP Venture Capital, with Panakès Partners participating
- December 2025NanoPhoria Named Startup of the Year by StartupItalia
NanoPhoria was been named Startup of the Year by StartupItalia at SIOS25 Winter, the tenth anniversary edition of the StartupItalia Open Summit
- January 2026Second closing of our series A round
NanoPhoria announces the second closing of our series A round to include participation from the European Innovation Council
- May 2026NanoPhoria among Italy’s Top Innovative Start-ups
NanoPhoria came second in the start-up category for year's "I protagonisti dell’innovazione 2026”, an initiative by INNLIFES that aims to recognise the most innovative companies within Italy's emerging life sciences sectors