Ferrosa Therapeutics AG (“FERROSA”), a Swiss biotechnology company focused on developing a first-in-class bispecific antibody for the treatment of anemia of inflammation, has announced a $3.5 million seed funding round led by founding investor Forty51 Ventures.
FERROSA’s lead program centers on a bispecific antibody designed to target the key biological causes of anemia of inflammation, particularly cytokine-driven disruption of iron regulation that affects red blood cell production. Its proprietary dual-mechanism approach combines two clinically validated pathways to improve iron availability and restore effective erythropoiesis.
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Anemia of inflammation is a common condition in patients with chronic kidney disease, autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, and various cancers. Current treatments including erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, intravenous iron, and blood transfusions mainly address symptoms rather than the root causes and may involve safety concerns. This highlights a significant unmet need for therapies that directly correct iron imbalance and support healthy red blood cell production.
With the new funding, FERROSA plans to advance its preclinical program, including antibody development, bispecific engineering, and in vivo proof-of-concept studies using disease-relevant animal models.
The company has appointed co-founder Martin Stern, MD, as Chief Executive Officer. He is a physician-scientist and board-certified hematologist with over 25 years of combined experience in academia and industry. Previously, he served as Chief Medical Officer at Numab Therapeutics, where he led the clinical development of multispecific antibodies in oncology and immunology, and also held the CMO role at Affivant Sciences. Earlier in his career, he worked in senior roles at Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED) and spent more than a decade practicing as a clinical hematologist.
Martin Stern commented: “Anemia of inflammation remains one of the most prevalent yet inadequately treated complications across chronic diseases. Our bispecific approach has the potential to change how clinicians manage this condition – moving beyond symptomatic support toward correction of the underlying pathophysiology. I am excited to build FERROSA and bring this differentiated therapy to patients who need it.”
FERROSA works closely with leading experts in antibody engineering, red blood cell biology, and nephrology. Dr. Beatriz Goyenechea, a well-known expert in antibody development and founder of StarBio International, serves as an advisor for antibody development. Prof. Stefano Rivella from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia provides guidance on preclinical disease models. Additionally, Prof. Beatrice Goilav, Professor of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Hospital and a leading researcher in chronic kidney disease, supports the company as a key opinion leader and clinical advisor.
Forty51 Ventures is the seed investor in FERROSA and has played a key role in setting up the company both operationally and financially. FERROSA is based in Basel, Switzerland, a globally recognized center for biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovation.
