Adaptam Therapeutics Raises €3 Million Pre-Seed Round to Advance Novel Cancer Immunotherapies
Adaptam Therapeutics, a Spanish biotechnology startup focused on pioneering cancer immunotherapies, has successfully closed a €3 million pre‑seed financing round to accelerate the development of its innovative antibody‑based therapeutic programs for solid tumors. The funding, announced on October 27, 2025, marks a major early milestone for the San Sebastián and Barcelona‑based company as it works to disrupt immunosuppressive mechanisms that enable tumors to evade existing treatments.
The round was led by Criteria Bio Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in early‑stage life sciences and biotechnology investments, which also saw two of its partners—Dr. Salvatore Cappadona and Dr. Pablo Cironi—join Adaptam’s board of directors as part of the financing deal. This backing underscores growing confidence in Adaptam’s differentiated strategy and scientific foundation.
Adaptam’s approach targets one of the most persistent barriers in cancer immunotherapy: the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, particularly the role of myeloid cells such as tumor‑associated macrophages (TAMs) that suppress immune responses within solid tumors. Traditional immunotherapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors and T‑cell‑targeted therapies, have transformed oncology, but a significant portion of patients either fail to respond or develop resistance, largely due to these suppressive mechanisms. Adaptam’s mission is to overcome this hurdle by developing first‑in‑class antibody constructs—including antibody‑drug conjugates (ADCs) and bispecific antibodies—that specifically engage glyco‑immune checkpoints expressed on these myeloid cells, potentially unlocking more effective immune responses against cancer.
The €3 million pre‑seed investment will be used to fund preclinical development across multiple oncology indications, advancing Adaptam’s lead programs as they progress toward investigational new drug (IND)‑enabling studies. This early stage of financing is critical for young biotech companies like Adaptam to expand their scientific teams, scale laboratory operations, and generate the preclinical evidence necessary to attract larger follow‑on funding from strategic and institutional investors.
Adaptam was founded in 2023 as a spin‑off from CIC bioGUNE, a Spanish biomedical research center in Bilbao, building on foundational research in glycobiology and immune modulation conducted by Professor Asis Palazon, PhD, who also serves as the company’s CEO and CSO. Palazon’s work—supported by prestigious research grants including from the European Research Council (ERC) and “la Caixa” Foundation—helped identify novel targets such as glycan‑binding proteins and Siglec receptors involved in the suppression of immune activity within tumor microenvironments.
In announcing the funding, Palazon highlighted the challenge posed by immunosuppressive myeloid cells in preventing effective anti‑tumor immune responses and expressed optimism that Adaptam’s science could ultimately provide new treatment options for patients with solid tumors that are refractory to existing therapies. The support from Criteria Bio Ventures and the participation of its board appointees are seen as strong validation of the scientific and commercial potential of Adaptam’s pipeline.
Adaptam’s financing comes amid a broader surge of interest and investment in European immuno‑oncology ventures in 2025, with numerous startups closing funding rounds to advance next‑generation cancer therapies. While the scale of individual raises varies, the collective momentum reflects continued belief among investors in the promise of novel approaches to cancer treatment. Adaptam’s pre‑seed round situates it well within this dynamic environment, with plans to build on its early achievements and move toward later‑stage funding and clinical development.
By addressing the immunosuppressive compartment of the tumor microenvironment through glyco‑immune checkpoint modulation, Adaptam aims to differentiate itself from other immuno‑oncology players and contribute to a new wave of therapies that can help patients who currently have limited options. The €3 million backing from Criteria Bio Ventures not only provides essential early capital but also connects Adaptam to a broader network of expertise and potential future investors, laying the groundwork for the company’s next phase of growth in the competitive and rapidly evolving biotech sector.
