Adaptam Therapeutics, a biotechnology company pioneering cancer immunotherapies designed to overcome immunosuppression within the tumor microenvironment, announced the successful completion of a €3 million (about $3.5 million) pre-seed financing round led by Criteria Bio Ventures.
The funding will enable Adaptam to advance its first-in-class antibody-based therapeutic programs into the preclinical phase across multiple oncology indications.
As part of the financing, Salvatore Cappadona, PhD, and Pablo Cironi, PhD, both from Criteria Bio Ventures, have joined the company’s board of directors.
Adaptam’s approach focuses on developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and bispecific antibodies that target novel glyco-immune checkpoints selectively expressed in immunosuppressive myeloid cells—a critical cell population known to hinder effective anti-tumor immune responses. By disrupting the activity of these cells, Adaptam aims to reprogram the tumor microenvironment (TME) to enable stronger immune system engagement against solid tumors.
The company’s founding vision stems from research by Professor Asis Palazon, PhD, founder, CEO, and CSO of Adaptam, and his team at CIC bioGUNE in Bilbao, Spain. Their work revealed the role of glycan-binding proteins in immune modulation, forming the scientific foundation for Adaptam’s therapeutic programs. The company’s discoveries have been supported by a Caixa Research Health grant from “la Caixa” Foundation and published in Nature Communications.
Adaptam’s development comes at a crucial moment in immuno-oncology. While immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors have transformed cancer treatment, a large subset of patients still fail to respond or develop resistance due to the immunosuppressive nature of the TME, primarily driven by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and other myeloid cells. Adaptam’s mission is to address this limitation by directly targeting these immune-suppressive mechanisms to unlock durable therapeutic responses.
The company’s differentiated strategy integrates insights from glycobiology and myeloid immunology to pioneer a new therapeutic frontier. With the funding, Adaptam plans to accelerate its preclinical programs and prepare for its next financing round to support IND-enabling studies.
KEY QUOTES
“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. 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.”
Asis Palazon, PhD, Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Scientific Officer, Adaptam Therapeutics
“We are thrilled to support Adaptam in its mission to transform cancer treatment by targeting the immunosuppressive cells within the TME. The scientific breakthroughs achieved by Prof. Asis Palazon and his team have laid the groundwork for potentially life-changing therapies. With this strong foundation, we believe Adaptam is well-positioned to deliver new, effective treatments for patients with solid tumors, addressing critical gaps in current immunotherapy options.”
Pablo Cironi, PhD, Chairman of the Board, Adaptam Therapeutics, and Partner, Criteria Bio Ventures
“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. We are proud to have partnered with Asis Palazon to build this exciting new venture and support its next phase of development. We are confident that Adaptam’s emerging pipeline offers a game-changing opportunity to transform cancer treatment for many patients.”
Salvatore Cappadona, PhD, Board Member, Adaptam Therapeutics, and Partner, Criteria Bio Ventures
“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.”
Professor Jesús Jiménez-Barbero, Scientific Director, CIC bioGUNE
