ASTRA Therapeutics raises CHF 7.75 million in seed financing round to advance precision Parasiticides for Animal Health
ASTRA Therapeutics Secures Seed Financing Round
- Round co-led by MIG Capital (CHF 3 million) and Digitalis Ventures (CHF 3 million), with participation from Borealis Ventures, Kickfund, and Venture Kick.
- ASTRA Therapeutics’ proprietary ParaX® platform generates novel precision drugs that target eukaryotic pathogens while sparing host cells.
- Eukaryotic pathogens cause illness and death in animals, humans, and crops.
Villigen, Switzerland, 24 July 2025 – ASTRA Therapeutics AG, a Swiss biotechnology company developing precision drugs against eukaryotic pathogens, today announced the closing of a CHF 7.75 million seed financing round. The funding will accelerate the company’s mission to transform parasitic disease treatment in animal health through the development of novel, host-sparing therapeutics.
The round was led by MIG Capital AG, a leading German venture capital firm, with a CHF 3 million investment through MIG Fonds 17 and 18. US-based Digitalis Ventures co-led the round with CHF 3 million, with additional support from Borealis Ventures, Kickfund, and Venture Kick.
Founded in 2022 by co-CEOs Dr. Natacha Gaillard and Dr. Ashwani Sharma, ASTRA Therapeutics cutting edge ParaX®platform is based on over a decade of research by the founders into the structural differences in tubulin – a protein fundamental to cell division. This scientific foundation enables the company to design Parabulins®, a new class of drugs that selectively inhibit parasite-specific tubulin while preserving host cells.
Natacha Gaillard, PhD, Founder and Co-CEO of ASTRA Therapeutics, said: “The animal health market is facing an ever-increasing need for novel anti-parasite drugs to combat the growing threat of drug resistance, ensure the health and welfare of our pets, and maintain healthy and efficient food production.”
Ashwani Sharma, PhD, also Founder and Co-CEO of ASTRA Therapeutics, added: “Our platform is designed to exploit structural differences between essential proteins in parasites and the host animals, enabling creation of new drugs that should be both effective and safe.”
The global parasiticide market is worth over USD 10 billion and is growing at a CAGR of 5.6%[1]. At the same time, established products are facing patent expiry, while increasing resistance is causing an increasing need for new drugs – in some regions, up to 98% of heartworm cases are already resistant to standard therapies.
By combining deep scientific expertise with strong investor support, ASTRA Therapeutics is redefining precision in parasitic disease treatment and setting new standards in animal health innovation.
“We see tremendous commercial potential for new drugs that control worms including heartworm in dogs and cats, and coccidiosis in poultry and swine production,” said Andreas Kastenbauer, Partner at MIG Capital. “With renowned structural biologists Dr. Natacha Gaillard and Dr. Ashwani Sharma in the lead and strong support from a team of market and business developers experienced in drug discovery, licensing and biotech financing, this is the right company to achieve success.”
Contact
Beatrix Benz
+41 79 256 77 73
ASTRA Therapeutics is a Swiss biotechnology company based at the Park InnovAARE innovation campus in Villigen, Switzerland that designs novel precision drugs against eukaryotic pathogens based on its proprietary platform ParaX®, with a focus on applications in Animal Health. For more information, please visit www.astratherapeutics.com
About MIG Capital
MIG Capital is one of the leading German VC investors. Through its MIG funds, MIG invests in young deep tech and life sciences companies in German-speaking Europe and beyond. To date, the company has invested over €770 million in approx. 60 start-ups. MIG portfolio companies develop innovations in areas including biopharmaceuticals, energy and environmental technologies, advanced computing, digitalization / IoT, medical technology, and digital health. The MIG investment portfolio currently consists of more than 30 companies.
For further information, please visit: www.mig.ag, www.mig-fonds.de LinkedIn: MIG Capital
About Digitalis Ventures
Digitalis Ventures backs founders solving critical problems in health. The firm invests in early-stage companies across life sciences, health technology & services, and animal health with the goal of supporting them through multiple rounds of financing. Digitalis is headquartered in New York City. For more information: https://www.digitalisventures.com/
About Borealis Ventures
Borealis Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm partnering closely with exceptional entrepreneurs to build visionary healthcare companies. Borealis focuses on life science platforms, digital health, and animal health opportunities and leverages its lengthy experience in advancing academic innovation. For more information: borealis.vc
[1] Stonehaven Cozmix Group, Animal Health Industry: Reflections on the Past Decade and Visions for the Future Report 2025. (Published at AHNTI Conference London 2025) [see page 23]