London-based drug discovery company Enedra Therapeutics has successfully closed a new funding round that combines venture capital with non-dilutive support from the UK Research and Innovation's (UKRI) Innovate UK Future Economy Investor Partnerships programme. The financing will accelerate the development of next-generation precision therapies for advanced, genetically heterogeneous cancers through the company's proprietary AI-driven CASPAROV platform.
The investment round was led by the Centre for Drug Design and Discovery (CD3) at KU Leuven, o2h Ventures, and follow-on investor Cancer Research Horizons. These partners bring substantial expertise in target validation, drug discovery, and translational science to strengthen Enedra's position in oncology innovation.
Targeting Chromosomal Instability in Complex Cancers
Enedra's approach focuses on addressing chromosomal instability (CIN), a key driver of genetic heterogeneity in tumors. Advanced cancers become increasingly complex as chromosomal instability enables them to adapt to treatments and external stresses, resulting in tumors with imbalanced, reshuffled, and unstable genomes.
The company's proprietary CASPAROV bioinformatics platform identifies novel drug targets that exploit a critical vulnerability: due to their unstable genomes, cancer cells rely on survival mechanisms that are not essential for normal cells. This dependency creates an opportunity for targeted therapeutic intervention.
Andreas Ballis, Founder and CEO of Enedra Therapeutics, emphasized the significance of the funding: "Such support from our new and existing seasoned investors and from Innovate UK signifies the increasing interest around what our technology and team can offer in tackling the challenge of CIN and tumour heterogeneity to bring new therapies for patients with advanced cancer to life."
Strategic Expansion of Leadership and Investor Base
As part of this new funding round, Patrick Chaltin, Managing Director of CD3, will join Enedra's Board of Directors. Chaltin expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: "We are thrilled to support Enedra and its team in these early stages, helping them build a strong, mature drug discovery pipeline. What attracted us to Enedra is the combination of an experienced drug-hunting team and a cutting-edge bioinformatics platform, which together deliver innovative approaches to address high unmet needs in cancer, along with biomarkers that predict treatment response."
O2h Ventures, which played a pivotal role in supporting Enedra's successful application for the Innovate UK grant, also joined the investor syndicate. Sunil Shah, CEO of o2h Ventures, commented: "We are very excited to support Enedra on this journey. Target selection is key in embarking on new drug discovery projects, and the CASPAROV platform for this coupled with the non-dilutive funding award and highly experienced founding and leadership team in developing cancer therapeutics made this attractive."
Cancer Research Horizons, which initially helped launch Enedra in collaboration with Deep Science Ventures, continues to support the company in this new growth phase.
Accelerating Drug Discovery Programs
With this infusion of capital, Enedra plans to accelerate its drug discovery programs while validating key patient selection biomarkers. The company also aims to expand its leadership team ahead of its next financing round.
The CASPAROV platform not only identifies potential drug targets crucial for cancer cell survival but also specific biomarkers that can predict treatment response. This dual approach aligns with the growing emphasis on personalized medicine in oncology, potentially offering more effective treatment options for patients with advanced cancers that have traditionally been difficult to treat.
Enedra's focus on chromosomal instability addresses a significant unmet need in cancer treatment. By targeting the mechanisms that allow cancer cells with unstable genomes to survive, the company hopes to develop therapies that can overcome the challenges posed by tumor heterogeneity and treatment resistance.
As Enedra continues to advance its therapeutic pipeline, the company aims to bring renewed hope to patients with advanced cancers that have long defied traditional treatment approaches. The combination of innovative technology, experienced leadership, and strong investor support positions Enedra to make significant contributions to the field of precision oncology.
