CE-Ventures joins €40m round for gene-reactivating biotech Aptadir

Dubai-based CE-Ventures invested in Aptadir Therapeutics in a €40 million seed round announced Sept. 29, 2026, described as Italy's largest biotech seed raise and among the biggest in Europe. Aptadir is a preclinical Italian company building therapies on molecules called DNMTs Interacting RNAs, or DiRs, designed to block abnormal DNA methylation that silences genes. The company says the approach has been demonstrated in patient-derived disease models. It plans pipeline expansion into oncology and other diseases. Scientific foundations were developed by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Italy's National Research Council, the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore and City of Hope National Medical Center. CEO Giovanni Amabile said the firm is pioneering an approach aimed at reversing disease-causing epigenetic silencing and restoring expression of genes that have been switched off, with potential to transform treatment of genetic diseases long considered irreversible. Tushar Singhvi of Crescent Enterprises said CE-Ventures continues to expand its biotech portfolio by backing technologies for areas of greatest unmet medical need. Damir Illich of CE-Ventures said Aptadir's technology has the potential to transform treatment of diseases previously beyond existing approaches. No disputed claims identified. The financing will support advancing the technology and broader pipeline.