Adaptam Therapeutics (“Adaptam”), a pioneering biotechnology company developing oncology immunotherapies targeting myeloid cells, has announced a pre-seed financing round led by Criteria Bio Ventures. The total amount of public and private funding raised by the company amounts to €3 million.
This financing round will enable Adaptam to continue advancing its programs and initiate the preclinical phase across multiple oncology indications. As part of the round, Salvatore Cappadona, PhD, and Pablo Cironi, PhD, both from Criteria Bio Ventures, have joined the company’s Board of Directors.
Adaptam is developing therapeutic programs based on monoclonal antibodies, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and bispecific antibodies, designed to bind to novel immune checkpoint targets selectively expressed on myeloid cells, leading to their elimination.
“Myeloid cells within tumors represent one of the major challenges of current immunotherapy. Our goal is to neutralize this immune brake by developing therapies specifically targeting these cells, offering patients new hope where traditional approaches have failed,” said Asís Palazón, PhD, Founder, CEO, and CSO of Adaptam. “The support of Criteria Bio Ventures enables us to take the next step toward our mission. We are already planning the next financing round to support studies leading into clinical development.”
Immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment by offering new solutions to patients worldwide. However, many patients still fail to respond or eventually develop resistance over time. This lack of efficacy is mainly due to the immunosuppressive nature of the tumor microenvironment (TME), which hampers the immune system’s ability to properly identify and destroy cancer cells. Among the main contributors to this immunosuppression are myeloid cells, particularly tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which play a crucial role in inhibiting the T-cell response. This challenge is especially evident in patients with solid tumors, where myeloid cells create an environment that prevents immune cells from mounting an effective antitumor response.
“We are thrilled to support Adaptam in its mission to transform cancer treatment by specifically targeting the immunosuppressive cells of the TME. The scientific findings of Prof. Asís Palazón and his team have established the foundation for the development of therapies with the potential to change many lives,” said Pablo Cironi, PhD, Chairman of the Board of Adaptam. “With strong scientific fundamentals, Adaptam is well-positioned to deliver new effective treatments for patients with solid tumors, expanding current immunotherapy options.”
“Adaptam’s differentiated focus at the intersection of myeloid-mediated immunosuppression and glycobiology represents a unique vision, perfectly positioned to advance cancer immunotherapy. We are proud to collaborate with Asís Palazón in building this new venture and supporting its next phase of development. We are confident that Adaptam’s emerging pipeline represents a true inflection point in transforming cancer treatment for many patients,” added Salvatore Cappadona, PhD, member of the Board of Directors of Adaptam.
Adaptam emerged from the research led by Prof. Asís Palazón and his team at CIC bioGUNE in Bilbao, with specialized support from Criteria Bio Ventures in the company’s conception, corporate strategy, and operational planning. Asís Palazón also received a 2021 CaixaResearch Health Research Call grant from the ”la Caixa” Foundation. Earlier findings on the structure and mechanism of action of immune-modulating proteins were previously published in Nature Communications.
“CIC bioGUNE’s leadership in glycobiology has been the scientific foundation of Adaptam, and we have supported the company from its early steps to its current preclinical maturity,” said Prof. Jesús Jiménez-Barbero, Scientific Director of CIC bioGUNE.
About Criteria Bio Ventures
Criteria Bio Ventures is a leading life sciences venture capital fund driving transformative companies that shape the future of health. It works closely with visionary entrepreneurs and committed investors to create innovative biotech companies with the potential to significantly improve patients’ lives. Criteria Bio Ventures invests in global biotechnology companies developing disruptive therapies that address unmet medical needs, with a primary focus on Europe.
www.criteriabioventures.com
About Adaptam Therapeutics
Adaptam Therapeutics is a biotechnology spin-off from CIC bioGUNE developing monoclonal antibody–based therapies for the treatment of solid tumors. Its therapeutic strategy aims to specifically target the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment by depleting myeloid cells, such as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Adaptam is advancing a pipeline of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and bispecific antibodies. The company, funded by Criteria Bio Ventures and the European Research Council (ERC), is committed to delivering new treatment options in immuno-oncology.
www.adaptamtx.com
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