Morphocell Technologies Completes $50 Million Series A to Advance Liver Disease Therapeutics
Key Insights
Morphocell Technologies (search) completed a $50 million Series A financing with a $10 million extension led by Investissement Québec (search) and CDP Venture Capital (search).
The funding will advance the company's lead program ReLiver (search) into clinical proof-of-concept and expand manufacturing capacity for stem cell-derived tissue therapies.
The investment positions Morphocell among the most well-capitalized private regenerative medicine companies in Canada with over three years of operating runway.
Morphocell Technologies (search) has completed a $50 million Series A financing following a $10 million extension led by Investissement Québec (search) and CDP Venture Capital (search). The closing brings the total Series A raise to $50 million after the company secured $40 million in February 2024 through a round led by Genson Capital (search).
The Laval, Québec-based company is developing next-generation tissue therapeutics with an initial focus on liver disease (search). Since the first Series A closing, Morphocell has expanded to 44 employees across the Greater Montréal Area, Cambridge (Boston), and Toronto, building a vertically integrated structure that spans discovery, cell manufacturing, and preclinical development.
Strategic Investment and Global Expansion
The new investment deepens the participation of Investissement Québec (search) and brings CDP Venture Capital (search) into the syndicate, marking CDP's first investment in a Canadian biotechnology company. The funding extends Morphocell's operating runway to more than three years and positions the company among the most well-capitalized private regenerative medicine companies in Canada.
"Since our initial Series A close, Morphocell has delivered remarkable progress across development, manufacturing and team expansion," said Dr. Massimiliano Paganelli, CEO and Co-Founder of Morphocell Technologies (search). "The decision by Investissement Québec (search) to deepen its commitment and by CDP Venture Capital (search) to join our syndicate represents a powerful vote of confidence in our vision and execution."
Clinical Development and Manufacturing Scale-Up
The funding will support Morphocell's plans to advance its lead program, ReLiver (search), into clinical proof-of-concept while expanding manufacturing capacity and strengthening its team. The company is developing stem cell-derived tissue and organ replacement therapies as part of its comprehensive regenerative medicine platform.
"Morphocell's goal has always been clear, to create revolutionary cell-based organ replacement therapies that cure patients," Paganelli added. "This additional funding reinforces our shared conviction, with our investors, our partners, and our team, that we are building the future of regenerative medicine right here in Québec."
European Market Entry
The company will establish its first European subsidiary in Italy, reflecting its Italian-founded origins and reinforcing its expansion into Europe's biotechnology community. Alessandro Scortecci, Chief Direct Investments at CDP Venture Capital (search), emphasized the strategic importance of this expansion.
"We are particularly proud to be part of Morphocell's journey, as it is a great example of how Italian world-class talent can innovate and drive impact on a global level," Scortecci said. "Our investment enables the establishment of Morphocell's first European subsidiary, in Italy, which will build on the Country's great talent, research capabilities, and industrial excellence."
The new resources position Morphocell to accelerate its scientific, operational, and geographic growth as it works to commercialize its tissue-engineered therapies and support global partnership development.