JenaValve Technology Closes $50 Million Financing

JenaValve Technology Inc., developer and manufacturer of the JenaValve Pericardial Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) System for the treatment of aortic valve disease, has raised $50 million in an equity financing led by Bain Capital Life Sciences. Additional participants in the financing included existing investors Andera Partners, Gimv, Legend Capital, NeoMed Management, RMM, Valiance Life Sciences and VI Partners. The company also appointed Andrew Hack, M.D., Ph.D., managing director of Bain Capital, to the JenaValve Board of Directors.
 
“We are pleased to complete this financing led by new investor Bain Capital Life Sciences, as well as strong participation from our existing venture investors,” said John Kilcoyne, JenaValve’s CEO. “This announcement comes on the heels of receiving Breakthrough Device designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which allows for priority review of our Align Clinical Trial for the treatment of symptomatic, severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and AR-dominant mixed aortic valve disease. Our TAVR system is differentiated in that no other transcatheter valve device has FDA approval for patients suffering from severe AR who are at high risk for surgery, which we believe is a multi-billion-dollar market opportunity. This financing supports our ongoing clinical program and plans to file for U.S. Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) approval in the second half of 2020.”
 
JenaValve is conducting a global multicenter clinical program for the treatment of patients with severe AR and AR-dominant mixed aortic valve disease who are at high risk for surgery. Following completion of the HDE portion of the trial, patient enrollment will continue in support of submitting a Premarket Approval (PMA) application to the FDA under the Breakthrough Device program. The company also anticipates filing the JenaValve for CE mark approval for both aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation in the second half of 2020.
 
“We welcome Dr. Hack to our Board and look forward to Bain Capital’s contribution to governance and strategy,” added Kilcoyne. “Andrew’s industry knowledge and experience, as well as his success as an institutional investor and chief financial officer will add valuable perspectives to our Board.”
 
Dr. Hack commented, “I’m delighted to join the JenaValve Board as the company works to gain approval for a solution to a significant unmet medical need. JenaValve’s focus on advancing a breakthrough technology with the ability to improve patient lives embodies the characteristics we seek at Bain Capital Life Sciences. We are committed to providing both financial assistance and oversight in support of JenaValve’s success.”
 
Dr. Hack has served as a managing director at Bain Capital Life Sciences since 2019. He previously served as chief financial officer of Editas Medicine and as a healthcare portfolio manager at Millennium Management. Prior to that, he was a securities analyst at a number of healthcare-focused hedge funds and investment banks. Dr. Hack earneed an M.D. and a Ph.D. in molecular genetics and cell biology from the University of Chicago.
 
The JenaValve Pericardial TAVR System consists of a bioprosthesis comprised of a self-expanding nitinol stent with a porcine pericardial valve manufactured using state-of-the-art tissue processing techniques. The TAVR System is available in three sizes to treat a broad range of aortic annulus diameters.
 
The JenaValve Pericardial TAVR System is an investigational device, and is not available for sale in the United States or internationally.