San Sebastián and Barcelona-based biotech Adaptam Therapeutics has secured €3 million (approximately $3.5 million) in pre-seed funding to develop first-in-class antibody therapies targeting immunosuppressive myeloid cells in solid tumors. The round was led by Criteria Bio Ventures, with Salvatore Cappadona and Pablo Cironi from the investment firm joining Adaptam's board of directors.
The funding represents a significant milestone for the company's mission to address one of immunotherapy's most persistent challenges: the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that prevents effective anti-tumor immune responses.
Targeting the Immunosuppressive Barrier
Adaptam's therapeutic approach centers on disrupting immunosuppressive myeloid cells, particularly tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which create barriers to effective cancer immunotherapy. The company is developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and bispecific antibodies that target novel glyco-immune checkpoints selectively expressed in these immunosuppressive cells.
"Immunosuppressive myeloid cells within tumors present one of the toughest challenges in immunotherapy today," said Asis Palazon, founder, CEO and CSO of Adaptam. "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 company's strategy addresses a critical gap in current cancer treatment. While checkpoint inhibitors have transformed oncology, a large subset of patients still fail to respond or develop resistance due to the immunosuppressive nature of the tumor microenvironment, primarily driven by TAMs and other myeloid cells.
Scientific Foundation and Research Origins
Adaptam was founded based on research conducted by Professor Asis Palazon 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 the company's therapeutic programs. The underlying discoveries have been published in Nature Communications and were supported by a Caixa Research Health grant from "la Caixa" Foundation awarded to Palazon in 2021.
"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," said Jesús Jiménez-Barbero, scientific director of CIC bioGUNE.
Development Strategy and Next Steps
The funding will enable Adaptam to advance its antibody-based therapeutic programs into the preclinical stage across multiple oncology indications. The company's differentiated strategy integrates insights from glycobiology and myeloid immunology to pioneer what it describes as a new therapeutic frontier.
"We are now actively planning our next funding round to support IND-enabling studies," Palazon noted, indicating the company's progression toward clinical development.
Pablo Cironi, chairman of Adaptam's board and partner at Criteria Bio Ventures, expressed confidence in the company's approach: "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."
Market Timing and Therapeutic Potential
Adaptam's development comes at what the company describes as a crucial moment in immuno-oncology. The approach aims to address the limitation that prevents many patients from benefiting from current immunotherapies by directly targeting immune-suppressive mechanisms to unlock durable therapeutic responses.
Salvatore Cappadona, board member and partner at Criteria Bio Ventures, highlighted the company's unique positioning: "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."
