Gianni Gromo
Partner @ Versant Ventures
Basel, Switzerland
Gianni Gromo is a Series A investor at Versant Ventures in Basel focused on Health Care and Medical. Gianni is a Partner with Versant Ventures. Gianni previously served as a Senior Executive with several pharmaceutical companies, most recently Hoffmann-La Roche, where he successfully lead research and development teams. Gianni’s roles at Roche included Research Head of Global Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, where he was responsible forall discovery and development activities in the CV, Renal and Metabolic areas; Head of Discovery Research, Basel Site; Global Head of the Metabolic and Vascular Disease Business Unit; and more recently Head of the Roche China R&D center, Shanghai. Prior to Roche, Gianni was Assistant Professor (tenure track), Immunobiology Research Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Research Director at Italfarmaco SpA, Milano, Italy; and Director of Biology-Cardiovascular-Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.He served as a Scientific Advisor to CSIRO (Australia), Baker Institute (Australia), Integra (Yissum/ Hebrew University, Israel)Momentum Fund (Ramot / Tel Aviv University).He serves on the Board of Directors of Novira Therapeutics (USA), and Piqur (Switzerland).Gianni received his MD and PhD in Clinical and Experimental Hematology at University of Milano, Italy.
- Total investments:
- 2
- Last investment:
- Lead investor:
- 50%
Last updated:
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Industries Gianni Gromo invests in
Stages Gianni Gromo invests in
Countries Gianni Gromo invests in
Investment Focus
Industry
- Health Care 2 (100%)
- Medical 1 (50%)
- Genetics 1 (50%)
- Therapeutics 1 (50%)
- Biotechnology 1 (50%)
Country
- France 1 (50%)
- United States 1 (50%)
Investments
| Company | Description | Round | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
AAVLife
|
AAVLife's lead indication is for Friedreich’s Ataxia Cardiomyopathy. Their program is based on the successful use of a gene-therapy approach in a mouse model developed to mimic the gene defect and cardiac symptoms of Friedreich’s Ataxia. The approach made use of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) to introduce a normal gene into cardiac tissue.The therapy restored cardiac function and reversed pathological heart enlargement in mice that had already progressed to heart failure.AAVLife has progressed research of this gene-therapy approach to inform decisions about dosing and route of administration to be used in a clinical trial. The company will be conferring with regulatory authorities about toxicity-study requirements and clinical-trial design. The goal is to commence a clinical trial in 2015 to evaluate gene therapy for heart disease associated with Friedreich’s Ataxia. An observational study will be initiated in 2014 as a run-up to treating patients in a Phase I/II study.Friedreich’s Ataxia is a life-threatening disorder caused by a genetic mutation that results in progressive neurologic and cardiac symptoms typically first appearing in childhood or during the teenage years. Cardiac disease accounts for the majority of deaths due to Friedreich’s Ataxia, with death usually occuring in early adulthood. They are passionate in their quest to serve patients and value their relationship with patient communities and the organizations that serve them. | $12M / Series A / Apr 15, 2014 | |
Novira Therapeutics
|
Novira Therapeutics is an antiviral drug discovery company that is focused on the discovery of first-in-class antiviral therapeutics for the treatment of chronic HBV and HIV infections, two global diseases with high levels of unmet need. Novira’s oral drugs target the capsid of the virus, and offer a promising treatment option both as monotherapyand in combination with current standards of care. The company’s antivirals potentially address limitations in treating chronic HBV infection, a disease for which the only class of oral drugs available, polymerase inhibitors, are rarely curative and often require lifelong treatment, as well as in chronic HIV infection, a disease for which the continued ability of the virus to mutate inevitably leads to drug-resistant viral strains. Each of these limitations to the standard of care can potentially be addressed by capsid inhibitors which feature a new mechanism of action. | $25M / Series A / Mar 24, 2013 |
Co-Investors
About Versant Ventures
Versant Ventures is a healthcare investment firm committed to helping exceptional entrepreneurs build the next generation of great companies. The firm invests across the healthcare sector and at all stages of company development, with an emphasis on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics. With $2.3 billion under management and officesin Canada, the U.S., and Europe, Versant has built a team with deep investment, operating, and scientific expertise that enables a hands-on approach to company building. Since the firm’s founding in 1999, more than 65 Versant companies have achieved successful acquisitions or IPOs.
Versant Ventures Contacts
| Name | Phone | Socials | |
|---|---|---|---|
Charles Warden
Managing Director
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Clare Ozawa
Managing Director
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Gianni Gromo
Partner
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Guido Magni
Partner
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Max Eisenberg
General Counsel
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FAQ
What does Gianni Gromo invest in?
Gianni Gromo invests primarily in Health Care, Medical and Genetics startups, most often at Series A stage. Most of the 2 investments tracked by Shizune back companies in France. The Investment Focus section breaks down every industry, stage and country in the portfolio.
When did Gianni Gromo last invest?
The most recent investment recorded for Gianni Gromo closed in Apr 2014. Shizune tracks 2 investments in total for this profile, including round sizes, stages and portfolio companies, all sourced from confirmed public funding rounds and refreshed monthly.
Is Shizune's investor data accurate?
Yes — every stat on this profile is calculated from confirmed public funding rounds monitored across hundreds of sources since 2020. This profile was last refreshed in Aug 2026 and is updated monthly. Spotted something off? Use the “Suggest an edit” link near the top of the page.
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