BioWorld International Correspondent

PARIS - TcLand Expression SA completed a Series A funding round, raising €8.2 million from an international group of institutional and industrial investors.

The financing was led by French venture capital firm Auriga Partners, of Paris, and included investments by the Quest for Growth Privak fund managed by Quest Management NV, of Leuven, Belgium; Beviguen, of Paris; Debiopharm Group, of Lausanne, Switzerland; and Genzyme Ventures, of Boston. The company's management and board members also participated in the funding.

TcLand Expression, which was founded in 2002 and is based in Nantes, in western France, is developing gene expression biomarkers for transplantation and autoimmune disorders. The firm also provides immuno-profiling and immunological testing services for biopharmaceutical companies conducting clinical trials in oncology, autoimmune diseases, vaccination and transplantation.

TcLand Expression, which recently spun out its therapeutic activities into an independent company, TcLand, plans to use the funds it has raised for the clinical validation of its first products for kidney transplantation, the further development of its autoimmune biomarker pipeline and precommercialization activities.

"This represents a substantial acknowledgement of our potential for developing innovative biomarkers, immuno-profiling services and companion diagnostic products," said Chairman and CEO Alain Huriez. "Our ambition is to change the standard of care in transplantation and autoimmune disorders by bringing true innovations to the market."