Geneva-based clinical-stage biotech Adiposs SA has successfully closed a CHF 4 million Series A financing round to advance development of ImageBAT, a first-in-class contrast agent designed to predict cancer treatment response through brown fat imaging. The round was syndicated by Swiss and Taiwanese venture capital firms, European family offices, and high-net-worth individual investors.
Novel Approach to Cancer Treatment Prediction
Adiposs is pioneering the development of the first imaging product for brown adipose tissue (BAT) designed to predict response to cancer therapy and enable personalized cancer treatment at scale. The company's proprietary ImageBAT technology leverages standard-of-care oncology CT scans to detect hypermetabolism in cancer patients—an indicator of poor response to treatment and a precursor to cachexia.
This approach addresses a significant unmet medical need in oncology: identifying non-responding cancer patients early enough to adjust or personalize treatment strategies. Currently, brown fat imaging in cancer patients cannot be reliably achieved with existing methods.
Clinical Development Progress
The company has achieved significant regulatory and clinical milestones. Following the successful completion of a Phase I clinical trial in 2023, which confirmed safety and tolerability in healthy volunteers, Adiposs received regulatory authorization to initiate the IBT-002 clinical trial. The proof-of-principle study began dosing patients in June 2025, with topline data expected in Q1 2026.
"We are thrilled to have the support of such a distinguished group of investors who share our mission for improving cancer patient outcomes globally," said Andrej Babic, Chief Executive Officer of Adiposs SA. "This financing enables us to move rapidly into further clinical development and generate the proof-of-principle data needed to unlock the full potential of our innovative technology."
Strategic Leadership Expansion
With the completion of its Series A financing, Adiposs is strengthening its Board of Directors to support its next phase of growth. The company has welcomed Peter Lichtlen, MD, and Johnny Chen, MBA, to its Board of Directors.
"We are delighted to welcome Peter Lichtlen, MD, and Johnny Chen, MBA, to the Board of Directors of Adiposs SA," said Reinhard K. Stary, Chairman of the Board. "Peter brings a remarkable entrepreneurial track record in biotech and oncology, having achieved three successful exits. Johnny, a former Partner at KPMG and PwC in Asia and an accomplished venture capital and private equity investor, will further enhance Adiposs' Board."
Technology and Market Position
Adiposs' proprietary technology leverages standard-of-care oncology CT scans widely available in hospitals worldwide, positioning the company at the forefront of scalable innovation in oncology. As a spin-off from the University of Geneva, the company is listed among Switzerland's top 100 life sciences start-ups and positions itself at the intersection of medical imaging, cancer diagnostics, and precision medicine.
The scalable nature of the technology, which utilizes existing CT infrastructure in hospitals globally, offers a promising tool to improve care for cancer patients facing hypermetabolism and treatment resistance. This approach could potentially transform how clinicians identify and manage non-responding cancer patients in clinical practice.
