Fighting Heart Failure: A Berlin Bet on Biotech
4TEEN4 Pharmaceuticals has developed Invobenitug (procizumab), a humanized monoclonal antibody for the treatment of patients with cardiogenic shock. © 4TEEN4
4TEEN4 Pharmaceuticals is taking aim at one of cardiology's deadliest emergencies, and now it has a new investor on board. The company, based in Hennigsdorf just north of Berlin, develops treatments for cardiogenic shock, and Christ Capital, the investment vehicle of entrepreneur Harald Christ, has just taken a stake in the company.
Here's the short version of what 4TEEN4 actually does. When the body experiences severe shock, a normally intracellular enzyme called cDPP3 spills into the bloodstream. Once there, it disrupts the cardiovascular system in ways that can lead to multiple organ failure and death. 4TEEN4's lead drug candidate, invobenitug, is a monoclonal antibody designed to neutralize cDPP3, targeting the molecular cause of shock rather than just its symptoms. The company's clinical programs are well advanced, and their November 2025 Series C round pulled in $64 million.
According to a press release from Christ Capital, Harald Christ sees the investment as a logical next step for his firm's focus on technology-driven, high-impact business models. "Berlin and Brandenburg are now among the most dynamic life sciences locations in Europe. This is where solutions to the major medical challenges of our time are being developed. For me, further strengthening this innovation ecosystem is both a business imperative and a personal conviction," Christ said.
Christ Capital, founded in 2004 with a balance sheet of around €155 million, has a track record in early-stage bets, including a stake in AI firm G2K, later sold to ServiceNow in one of Germany's largest AI deals.
The move also signals a broader shift: Christ is stepping back from operational roles in the group's consulting businesses, focusing instead on building out the investment portfolio. For Berlin's innovation ecosystem, that's more capital pointed in the right direction.
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