Ethris, based in Planegg, has secured EUR 30 million in financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) under HERA Invest. The funding will support the further clinical development of its mRNA-based product pipeline for respiratory diseases and pandemic preparedness. The focus is on the antiviral candidate ETH47 for virus-driven exacerbations of asthma and COPD.
The biotechnology company Ethris is advancing the clinical development of its mRNA-based therapies and vaccines for respiratory diseases. Together with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (DG HERA), the company has agreed on EUR 30 million in financing under HERA Invest.
The funds will support the further clinical development of Ethris’ portfolio. At the center is ETH47, the company’s lead mRNA-based antiviral candidate. The financing also covers additional programs, particularly ETH52 and ETH53, which focus on mucosal influenza vaccines and preparedness for future pandemics.
ETH47 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2a clinical trial for its antiviral activity in patients with asthma. The candidate is also planned to be evaluated in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Viral infections are among the major triggers of acute worsening – known as exacerbations – in asthma and COPD. The new financing is intended to enable Ethris to advance ETH47 into Phase 2b trials in patients with asthma and COPD.
ETH47 takes a novel approach: Rather than targeting specific proteins of individual viruses, the candidate is designed to activate the body’s innate immune response directly in the airways. The mRNA candidate encodes interferon lambda (IFNλ), an important mediator of the antiviral immune response. ETH47 is based on Ethris’ proprietary Stabilized Non-Immunogenic mRNA (SNIM®RNA) platform and is designed for local administration to the respiratory tract by inhalation or nasal spray. It uses the company’s proprietary Stabilized NanoParticle (SNaP®) LNP platform.
Through this virus- and mutation-independent mode of action, ETH47 is designed to strengthen immune defenses at a key entry site for respiratory viruses while also inhibiting viral replication. The approach could therefore potentially act against different viral families and be used to address both seasonal and emerging respiratory virus infections.
“EIB’s financing under HERA Invest will enable us to provide further clinical proof of concept of our novel approach targeting viral threats at the point of entry,” said Dr. Carsten Rudolph, CEO and Co-Founder of Ethris. “ETH47 is designed to activate the body's natural innate immune response rather than targeting specific viral proteins, giving it broad potential antiviral activity against a multitude of viral families. We believe this platform has the potential to improve lives not only through prevention of exacerbations in chronic respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD, but also by preventing viral transmission, offering a promising approach to pandemic preparedness.”
The EIB also sees potential in the technology for patients and for European health preparedness. Nicola Beer, Vice President of the European Investment Bank, emphasized that the EIB’s financing supports a promising European mRNA innovation on its path from the laboratory to patients. ETH47 could offer a new, locally administered approach to virus-driven asthma and COPD exacerbations. At the same time, the cooperation with HERA strengthens Europe’s preparedness for future health threats as well as the European pharmaceutical and biotechnology ecosystem.
Laurent Muschel, Deputy Head of DG HERA, highlighted Ethris’ combination of innovative mRNA technologies, intranasal administration, and a host-targeted antiviral approach that could potentially address multiple virus families. “Today, the development of vaccines and antivirals remains more important than ever to fight emerging threats,” Muschel said, adding: “Our investment is part of this answer.”
Building on continued support for Ethris’ mRNA pipeline
In 2024, Ethris received USD 5 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to advance preparations for the Phase 2a trial and the manufacturing processes required for the study. The BayTherapie2020 funding program of the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs also supported the ETH47 program.
In parallel, Ethris is further expanding its activities in the field of mRNA-based vaccines. In February 2026, Ethris, together with the European NOFLU consortium, initially received EUR 13 million to develop a novel mucosal mRNA vaccine against pandemic influenza. If the program progresses successfully, it could receive up to EUR 148 million in total funding across several development stages. The approach aims to induce an immune response directly in the respiratory tract and thus at the virus’s point of entry.
With the current EIB financing, Ethris is continuing along this development path. HERA Invest supports small and medium-sized companies in the research and development of medical countermeasures against particularly relevant cross-border health threats. The financing for Ethris is therefore intended not only to accelerate the clinical development of new therapies for chronic respiratory diseases, but also to contribute to European pandemic preparedness.