AnaCardio Raises €62.5M for Heart Failure Drug Development

Stockholm, Sweden – September 30, 2026 – AnaCardio has successfully closed a substantial €62.5 million Series B funding round, signaling strong investor confidence in its innovative approach to treating advanced heart failure. The significant capital infusion was co-led by prominent life sciences investor Novo Holdings and the Ljungström family office. This financing is earmarked to propel the company's lead candidate, AC01, through its pivotal Phase 2b clinical trials, aiming to position the therapy as Phase 3-ready by 2028.

The Series B round saw robust participation from existing backers including Pureos Bioventures, Sound Bioventures, Industrifonden, Flerie, and LLD Nybohov Invest AB. Notably, the originator of the therapy, Helsinn, also participated, alongside new strategic investor Innovestor Life Science. This broad support underscores the perceived potential of AC01 to address a critical unmet need in the cardiovascular space.

Heart failure represents a persistent global health crisis, with a significant portion of patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) failing to achieve optimal outcomes with current guideline-directed medical therapies. These individuals face a heightened risk of disease progression and poor prognoses. AC01, a first-in-class oral ghrelin receptor agonist, is designed to enhance cardiac contractility through a unique calcium-sensitizing mechanism, differentiating it from traditional inotropic agents that often carry significant safety liabilities such as arrhythmias and ischemia.

The therapeutic potential of AC01 was underscored by compelling data from the Phase 1b/2a GOAL-HF1 study, published in The Lancet. This trial demonstrated a significant 22% increase in cardiac output and a 4.8 percentage point improvement in ejection fraction after just four weeks of treatment. Crucially, the therapy exhibited a favorable safety profile, with no observed increases in heart rate, arrhythmias, or hypotension, a key advantage over existing treatments. These findings suggest AC01 could offer a safer and more effective option for patients with advanced heart failure.

With the newly secured funding, AnaCardio is set to initiate the Phase 2b GOAL-HF2 study in the fourth quarter of 2026. This large-scale, approximately 400-patient trial, designed in consultation with both the FDA and EMA, will evaluate AC01 across multiple international sites. The study's successful completion is anticipated to provide the data necessary for advancing AC01 into late-stage development, potentially ushering in a new era of heart failure management. The market for heart failure therapies is substantial, with global spending projected to grow significantly as aging populations increase the prevalence of cardiovascular disease.

The investment reflects a broader trend of increased funding for biopharmaceutical companies developing novel treatments for complex diseases. The cardiovascular sector, in particular, continues to attract significant venture capital, driven by the persistent burden of heart disease and the demand for therapies that offer improved efficacy and safety profiles. The successful progression of AC01 through its upcoming trials could represent a significant clinical and commercial milestone for AnaCardio and a valuable addition to the therapeutic arsenal against heart failure.