Captain T Cell, a German biotechnology company developing next-generation TCR-T cell therapies for solid tumors, announced the successful completion of a €20 million equity financing round on November 17, 2025. The funding, combined with previously secured grants, positions the company to advance its lead autologous program CTC127 through Phase I clinical trials and progress its allogeneic platform toward clinical readiness.
The financing round was co-led by Springboard Health Angels and Pluton Asset Holding AG, with participation from new investors Sintra Limited and Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen, alongside existing investors i&i Biotech Fund I SCSp, HIL-INVENT, and Brandenburg Kapital.
TOMATA Trial to Launch Across German Cancer Centers
The funding will enable CTC127 to enter the TOMATA clinical trial (Toolbox-modified MAGE-A4-TCR-T cell therapy for HLA-A1), a first-in-human Phase I study led by principal investigator Prof. Antonia Busse at Charité – Universitaetsmedizin Berlin. The trial will involve eight additional leading cancer centers across Germany and will enroll patients with advanced MAGE-A4-positive solid tumors, including lung, bladder, gastroesophageal, ovarian, and head and neck cancers.
"There remains a profound unmet need for effective therapies for patients with advanced solid tumors," noted Prof. Busse. "We look forward to initiating the clinical safety and efficacy evaluation of CTC127 together with eight other leading cancer centers in Germany."
Proprietary Toolbox Technology Platform
CTC127 is built on Captain T Cell's proprietary engineering toolbox, which enables functional "armoring" of T cells to enhance their anti-tumor activity, persistence, and resilience within the solid tumor microenvironment. The technology platform includes a TGF-β switch receptor that can be applied across TCR-T, CAR-T, and potentially tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapies in autologous, allogeneic, and potentially in vivo engineering modalities.
The company has already demonstrated complete solid tumor responses in vivo with its first-in-class allogeneic TCR-T cell platform, which it plans to advance toward clinical trial readiness. Additionally, Captain T Cell intends to extend its toolbox technology toward in vivo T cell therapy applications.
Strong Investor Confidence Despite Market Challenges
"Despite a challenging fundraising environment, we have gained broad investor support, which underscores the strong competitive profile of Captain T Cell's best- and first-in-class next-generation T cell therapy platform," said Dr. Felix Lorenz, CEO of Captain T Cell. "Our best-in-class autologous program CTC127 will enter the fully funded TOMATA clinical trial and our first-in-class allogeneic TCR-T platform is progressing toward clinical readiness."
Dr. Andreas Schmidt of Springboard Health Angels emphasized the therapeutic potential: "The Company's lead program CTC127 holds the potential to become a highly effective and safe therapy for solid tumor patients who urgently need novel treatment options. With funding secured through the upcoming Phase I readout, Captain T Cell is well positioned for a major value inflection."
Validated Target with Commercial Potential
Dr. Theis Terwey, representing lead investor Pluton Asset Holding AG, highlighted the strategic rationale: "MAGE-A4 is a de-risked and commercially validated target. The available preclinical data convincingly demonstrate that Captain T Cell's toolbox-enhanced approach is conceptually superior to on-market cell therapies against solid tumors, providing strong evidence that the Company can deliver competitive efficacy in large solid tumor indications."
The company's consistent execution has impressed existing investors. "Since our initial investment, the Captain T Cell team has consistently executed with exceptional speed and quality, achieving every milestone set at the seed round funding stage," said Dr. Barbora Šumová, Investment Director at i&i Biotech Fund. "We are proud to continue supporting the Company as it advances towards becoming a clinical-stage company."
Clinical Timeline and Future Development
Captain T Cell expects CTC127 to enter clinical trials in early 2027, with the current funding providing support through Phase I readouts. The company, founded as a spin-off from the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, continues to advance its comprehensive approach to overcoming the challenges of solid tumor treatment through enhanced T cell therapies designed specifically for the tumor microenvironment.
