Jeito Capital has led a $65 million Series A financing round in ReproNovo, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative treatments for reproductive medicine and women's health. The funding will advance the company's lead candidates through Phase 2 clinical trials addressing significant unmet needs in fertility and reproductive health.
The investment round was co-led by AXA IM Alts and M Ventures, with additional participation from Ysios Capital and ALSA Ventures. Founded in 2021, ReproNovo has rapidly built a pipeline of two Phase 2-ready assets targeting three distinct disease areas.
Addressing the Global Fertility Crisis
The financing comes at a critical time, as global fertility rates continue to decline. Male reproductive health has deteriorated significantly, with sperm counts falling by 50-60% over the last four decades. Approximately one in six people worldwide will face infertility issues, highlighting the urgent need for innovative therapeutic approaches.
"We are focused on innovative therapeutic solutions for male and female infertility, as well as pioneering management options for conditions like adenomyosis," said Jean Marie Duvall, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ReproNovo. "Our aim is to address critical gaps in the landscape of infertility and women's health worldwide."
Promising Clinical Pipeline
ReproNovo's lead candidate, RPN-001 (leflutrozole), is being developed as an oral therapy for male infertility due to low testosterone levels. The small molecule inhibits the enzyme aromatase, suppressing testosterone conversion to estradiol, thereby normalizing testosterone levels. Low testosterone is becoming increasingly prevalent, even among younger men, creating an urgent demand for effective treatment options.
The company's second candidate, RPN-002 (nolasiban), targets two distinct indications:
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As a first-in-class treatment for adenomyosis, a condition where endometrial tissue grows into the uterine muscle, causing severe menstrual bleeding and pain. Recent imaging studies have identified features of adenomyosis in nearly one in four women undergoing gynecological evaluation. Currently, there are no approved drugs for this indication.
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For improving success rates in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) by enhancing embryo implantation through its effect on the uterus.
Both compounds are administered orally, offering potential advantages in patient compliance and convenience.
Expert Leadership and Strategic Vision
ReproNovo is led by a team with deep expertise in reproductive medicine, including Jean Marie Duvall as CEO, Dr. Joan-Carles Arce as CSO and CMO, and BingMei Hao as CFO. The team brings significant experience in successful clinical development and commercial launches in the reproductive health space.
Ksenija Pavletic, Partner and Chief Commercial Officer at Jeito Capital, who will join ReproNovo's Board of Directors, commented: "We were highly impressed by the ReproNovo team, whose members have a strong track record in this field, having brought a number of compounds successfully through clinical development and onto the market. Their deep understanding of the field will enable them to effectively address critical unmet needs that have a strong impact on society."
Investment Rationale
For Jeito Capital, the investment aligns with its strategy of supporting companies developing breakthrough innovations with significant value-creation potential for patients and society.
"ReproNovo combines strong innovative potential, a seasoned team, and a clear ambition to address one of the most pressing global challenges of our time: declining birth rates," said Dr. Rafaèle Tordjman, Founder and CEO of Jeito Capital. "We are proud to support the acceleration of ReproNovo's clinical development and help unlock its potential to become a future market leader."
Zina Affas Besse, Partner & Deputy Head of Healthcare Private Equity at AXA IM Alts, added: "We are proud to support a company working to address critical gaps in reproductive medicine and women's health. This includes indications such as adenomyosis where no treatments currently exist and other areas, including male infertility where limited options are available."
Market Context and Opportunity
The global decline in fertility rates represents both a significant medical challenge and a societal concern. The rising incidence of male infertility, coupled with the health risks women face during fertility treatments, underscores the need for comprehensive reproductive solutions.
ReproNovo's approach is particularly notable for addressing both male and female fertility issues, as well as targeting conditions like adenomyosis that have historically received less attention in drug development.
With headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, and development teams in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Barcelona, Spain, ReproNovo is strategically positioned to advance its clinical programs and potentially transform the reproductive medicine landscape.
