Aptadir Therapeutics has raised EUR 40 million in a seed financing led by 4BIO Capital, with CE-Ventures among the participating investors. The round is described as Italy's largest biotech seed financing and one of Europe's largest, supporting the preclinical company's disease-modifying RNA therapeutics for genetic disorders and oncology. Aptadir will advance CAP1-FMR1 for Fragile X Syndrome and expand programmes based on DNMTs Interacting RNAs, or DiRs. The molecules are designed to block aberrant DNA methylation at specific genes, potentially reversing abnormal gene silencing, reactivating gene expression and restoring biological function. Aptadir says the effect has been demonstrated in complex patient-derived disease models. The investment adds RNA therapeutics to CE-Ventures' life sciences portfolio, which spans drug discovery, genetic medicine and targeted therapeutics. The platform's underlying research involved scientists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the Italian National Research Council, the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore and City of Hope National Medical Center.