London-based bio-engineering company Neobe Therapeutics has raised €6.1 million ($6.8 million/£5 million) in a Seed funding round. The company will use the funding to develop engineered bacteria that can help cancer drugs reach solid tumours more easily and destroy cancer cells. These bacteria are designed to break down the barriers that often prevent treatments from reaching tumours.
The funding round was led by ARC Ventures, with participation from Faber, Macmillan Ventures (the investment arm of Macmillan Cancer Support), Proven Connect and Empirical Ventures. Existing pre-Seed investor 2048 Ventures also took part in the round.
Dr. Pedro Correa de Sampaio, co-founder and CEO, Neobe Therapeutics, said, “Several treatments that can cure cancer already exist, but in far too many patients they simply cannot get to where they are needed. I’m delighted to be working with investors that share our vision of making untreatable cancers curable, and excited to move our platform towards clinical trials.”
Founded in 2021 by Dr. Correa de Sampaio and Dr. Annelise Soulier, Neobe Therapeutics is based at Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst in the UK. The company is working on new treatments that could help make currently difficult-to-treat cancers more treatable.
According to the company, new cancer treatments such as immunotherapy have improved care for many patients, but they do not work for everyone. One reason is that some solid tumours are surrounded by a thick layer of tissue that acts like a wall. This barrier makes it difficult for cancer drugs and immune cells to reach and attack cancer cells.
Neobe is developing its treatment by using modified, harmless bacteria as a type of medicine. These bacteria are designed to travel to tumours after being injected and release enzymes that break down the surrounding tissue barrier. This could help cancer drugs and immune cells enter the tumour more easily and attack cancer cells.
Joseph Korff, Founder of Arc Ventures, said, “We are excited to back Neobe Therapeutics’ differentiated approach to overcoming the physical barriers created by dense tumour matrices. Assets derived from Neobe’s platform will improve the efficacy of cancer therapies and extend their benefits to more patients.”
The funding will help Neobe move its lead treatment programme, NEO22, through preclinical testing and prepare it for an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in 2028. The company also plans to expand its leadership team as it prepares to begin clinical trials.
