According to EU-Startups, Cambridge biotech startup T-Therapeutics just secured €27.5 million ($32 million) in an expanded Series A round, with new investors Tencent and BGF joining the syndicate. The funding brings their total Series A to €78.2 million ($91 million) after an initial €50.7 million raise. CEO Theodora Harold called it “strong validation” of their technology targeting upstream disease-drivers with pan-indication impact. The company, spun out from University of Cambridge in 2022, is developing next-generation T cell receptor therapeutics for both cancer and autoimmune diseases. All existing major shareholders including Sofinnova Partners, F-Prime, and Cambridge Innovation Capital also participated in this extension.
European immunotherapy landscape
This funding positions T-Therapeutics within a broader European immuno-oncology funding wave in 2025. France’s Adcytherix secured €105 million for antibody-drug conjugates, while Spain’s Adaptam Therapeutics raised €3 million for myeloid cell therapies. Together, these rounds represent roughly €108 million flowing through the sector this year. T-Therapeutics’ cumulative €78.2 million actually constitutes a massive chunk of that visible activity. It’s interesting how investor interest persists across different immunotherapy approaches, even if the specific modalities vary.
The science behind the funding
Here’s what makes T-Therapeutics stand out. Their OpTiMus platform can supposedly generate an almost unlimited repertoire of fully human T cell receptors. That’s crucial because it lets them go after intracellular targets that were previously considered “undruggable.” They combine these TCRs with proprietary CD3 T cell engagers to create first-in-class bispecific drug candidates. Basically, they’re building drugs that can grab onto both diseased cells and immune cells simultaneously, directing the immune system exactly where it needs to go. Their lead oncology asset targets a pan-tumour driver across multiple solid tumours, while their immunology program aims for precision immune reset by selectively depleting pathogenic immune cells.
What the money buys
The additional €27.5 million will push their pipeline of TCR-CD3 bispecifics toward clinical trials across both oncology and autoimmune diseases. They’re also exploring new strategies like T cell subset depletion, which Graziano Seghezzi from Sofinnova Partners called “one of the most exciting areas in immunology.” Think about that for a second – being able to selectively remove only the problematic immune cells while leaving the rest intact. That’s the holy grail for autoimmune diseases where current treatments often suppress the entire immune system. The company claims their approach could deliver significant clinical benefit by targeting upstream drivers rather than just symptoms.
Big picture implications
This funding round tells us a few things about where biotech is heading. First, the involvement of Tencent shows Chinese investors remain keen on European life sciences innovation despite geopolitical tensions. Second, the focus on “undruggable” targets suggests we’re moving beyond low-hanging fruit to tackle more complex biological challenges. And third, the pan-indication approach could potentially deliver bigger returns if successful, since one drug might treat multiple conditions. The real test will come when these bispecifics hit clinical trials and we see if the promising platform actually delivers safe, effective treatments for patients.
Looking ahead
T-Therapeutics now has substantial runway to prove their technology works in humans. With nearly €80 million total funding and backing from top-tier life science investors, they’re well-positioned to advance programs toward the clinic. Luke Rajah from BGF praised the leadership team’s “outstanding track record of building successful drug discovery businesses.” But let’s be real – the biotech graveyard is full of companies that raised impressive rounds but couldn’t translate platform technology into actual medicines. The next 12-18 months will be crucial as they move their lead assets closer to clinical proof-of-concept. You can follow their progress at their website.
