Villigen, Switzerland — Swiss biotech company ASTRA Therapeutics has raised €8.3 million in seed funding to develop next-generation antiparasitic drugs for animals, as the global veterinary sector struggles with rising drug resistance.
The round was led by MIG Capital AG, with U.S.-based Digitalis Ventures as co-lead. Other backers include Borealis Ventures, Kickfund, and Venture Kick. MIG Fonds 17 and 18 alone contributed €3.2 million to the raise — marking MIG Capital’s first investment in Switzerland and a significant vote of confidence in ASTRA’s novel approach.
Founded in 2022 and based at Park InnovAARE, ASTRA Therapeutics develops precision parasiticides that target parasites without harming host animals. The company’s proprietary ParaX platform enables it to design species-specific drug candidates, called Parabulins, that block cell division in parasites by targeting tubulin — a structural protein — without affecting the same protein in animals.
ASTRA’s pipeline already includes over 15 patentable chemical classes, with potent candidates aimed at treating coccidiosis in livestock and heartworm in pets — both markets where drug resistance is becoming a critical challenge. In some regions, up to 98% of heartworm cases are resistant to existing therapies, the company notes.
“The animal health market urgently needs new solutions to combat drug-resistant parasites — not just for pets, but for food production and global health,” said Natacha Gaillard, PhD, co-founder and co-CEO of ASTRA. “Our Parabulins are designed to address that need with precision.”
Co-founder Ashwani Sharma, PhD, added: “We’re leveraging unique structural differences between parasites and their hosts to design safer, more effective drugs from the ground up.”
With the global parasiticide market valued at over €8.4 billion and growing steadily, ASTRA sees revenue potential of over €2 billion annually in veterinary worm control alone. The team’s combination of cutting-edge science and commercial focus has attracted investor attention.
“MIG Capital sees a massive opportunity here,” said Andreas Kastenbauer, Partner at MIG Capital. “With a world-class team, a differentiated platform, and clear market demand, ASTRA is well-positioned to lead the next generation of animal health innovation.”
As resistance mounts and older products lose patent protection, ASTRA aims to bring urgently needed reinforcements to the global fight against animal parasites — with science, precision, and scalability at its core.
