Adaptam Therapeutics, a biotech company developing cancer immunotherapies targeting immunosuppressive myeloid cells, announced the completion of a €3 million (~$3.5 million) pre-seed financing round led by Criteria Bio Ventures. The funds will advance preclinical programs in multiple oncology indications. Salvatore Cappadona, PhD, and Pablo Cironi, PhD, from Criteria Bio Ventures, joined the board of directors.
Adaptam is creating first-in-class antibody-based therapies, including ADCs and bispecific antibodies, aimed at novel glyco-immune checkpoints expressed in immunosuppressive myeloid cells.
“Immunosuppressive myeloid cells within tumors present one of the toughest challenges in immunotherapy today. Our goal is to neutralize this obstacle by developing therapies that specifically target these cells, offering patients new hope where traditional approaches have failed,” said Asis Palazon, PhD, founder, CEO and CSO of Adaptam. “The support from Criteria Bio Ventures enables us to take a step forward in achieving our mission. We are now actively planning our next funding round to support IND-enabling studies.”
Immunosuppressive myeloid cells, especially TAMs, remain a major barrier to effective immunotherapy in solid tumors. Adaptam’s approach directly addresses this limitation.
“We are thrilled to support Adaptam in its mission to transform cancer treatment by targeting the immunosuppressive cells within the TME,” said Pablo Cironi, PhD, chairman of the Adaptam board. “The scientific breakthroughs achieved by Prof. Asis Palazon and his team have laid the groundwork for potentially life-changing therapies.”
“Adaptam’s differentiated approach at the intersection of myeloid-mediated immunosuppression and glycobiology represents a one-of-a-kind vision uniquely positioned to unlock the next frontier in cancer immunotherapy,” said Salvatore Cappadona, PhD, board member of Adaptam.
Adaptam originated from research at CIC bioGUNE in Bilbao, Spain, led by Prof. Asis Palazon, supported by a Caixa Research Health grant from “la Caixa” Foundation.
“CIC bioGUNE’s long-standing leadership in glycobiology provided the scientific foundation for Adaptam and we have supported the company from its earliest steps through to today’s preclinical maturation,” said Prof. Jesús Jiménez-Barbero, scientific director of CIC bioGUNE.