Integra Therapeutics Raises €10.7 Million to Advance FiCAT Gene Writing Platform and CAR-T Therapies
Key Insights
Integra Therapeutics (search) closed a €10.7 million pre-Series A funding round led by the EIC Fund (search) and CDTI Innvierte (search) to advance its FiCAT gene writing platform.
The company will use the funds to validate next-generation CAR-T therapies in preclinical studies and expand cell engineering capabilities for pharmaceutical partnerships.
Integra is developing gene therapies targeting cancer, autoimmune diseases, and rare diseases, including a pediatric liver disease treatment funded by an EIC Accelerator grant.
Integra Therapeutics (search), a Barcelona-based biotech company specializing in gene writing technologies, has secured €10.7 million in pre-Series A funding to advance its FiCAT gene writing platform and accelerate the development of next-generation CAR-T therapies. The investment round was led by new investors including the EIC Fund (search), which contributed €4 million, and CDTI Innvierte (search) from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and University, which invested €2.7 million.
The funding round also included continued support from existing investors AdBio Partners (search), Columbus Venture Partners (search), Invivo Partners (search), and Takeda Ventures (search), demonstrating sustained confidence in the company's innovative approach to gene therapy development.
Advancing Gene Writing Technology
The newly raised capital will be strategically deployed across three key areas: incorporating new advances into the FiCAT gene writing platform, validating various next-generation CAR-T therapies in preclinical studies, and expanding FiCAT cell engineering capabilities to facilitate technology transfer to the pharmaceutical industry.
Integra's FiCAT platform represents a cutting-edge approach to gene writing tools designed to improve the efficacy, precision, and safety of advanced therapies. In May, the company presented highly promising preclinical data for its FiCAT platform at the 28th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT), highlighting the platform's potential in advancing therapeutic development.
Therapeutic Pipeline and Applications
Beyond its platform development, Integra is actively developing its first gene therapy targeting a rare pediatric liver disease, which is being funded through an EIC Accelerator grant. The company's therapeutic focus spans multiple disease areas, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, and rare diseases.
"Thanks to the support of our investors, we will continue leading innovation in cell and gene therapies and are getting closer to transforming the treatment of complex diseases like cancer, autoimmune diseases and rare diseases," explained Avencia Sánchez-Mejías, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder of Integra Therapeutics (search).
Strategic Partnerships and Investor Support
Founded in 2020 as a spinoff from Pompeu Fabra University by Dr. Marc Güell and Dr. Avencia Sánchez-Mejías, Integra has established strategic partnerships with leading companies, including CasZyme, to accelerate and expand its therapeutic development efforts.
The EIC Fund (search)'s investment reflects confidence in Integra's potential to make significant contributions to the gene therapy field. "We are happy to announce EIC Fund's investment in Integra Therapeutics (search). We empower them to accelerate the development of groundbreaking therapies that have the potential to transform lives and advance the field of gene therapy on a global scale," stated Svetoslava Georgieva, Chair of the EIC Fund Board.
Company Operations and Sustainability
Integra maintains its corporate headquarters in Barcelona with laboratory operations at the Advanced Therapies Platform at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu in Esplugues de Llobregat. The company earned My Green Lab sustainability certification in 2023, demonstrating its commitment to environmentally responsible research practices.
The EIC Fund (search), serving as the venture capital arm of the European Innovation Council with the European Investment Bank as the investor of record, focuses on supporting companies developing disruptive technologies across all technology sectors. CDTI Innvierte (search) operates under the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities framework to promote business innovation through venture capital investment in technology-based companies.