The Venture Codex

Participated · Series A · Jul 2026

Telum Therapeutics, founded in 2019, is developing protein-based antimicrobial therapies using its proprietary APEX platform. Its lead programme targets severe infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii, specifically hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP). The company plans to use the Series A proceeds to complete Phase 1 clinical development of the lead candidate and to advance its broader pipeline against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens. Telum positions its approach as potentially overcoming limitations of existing antibiotic treatments. No revenue, user, or other operating metrics were disclosed in the announcement. The company highlighted support from both public and private Spanish and international investors as part of its financing.

Participated · Seed · May 2026

Signadori Bio is developing a next-generation, off-the-shelf immunotherapy approach that engineers monocytes in vivo to regulate and enhance myeloid anti-tumour activity. The company’s lead programme is SiB-2101, which it is advancing toward lead candidate nomination. Its platform and scientific approach are based on research conducted at Gustave Roussy and were developed by founders Dr Jean-Luc Perfettini and Professor Nathalie Chaput. Signadori is preclinical-stage and is based in Paris. Financially, the company has raised a total of €11.1 million following the recent seed extension, with backing from Sofinnova Partners, Invivo Partners, and new participation from Taiho Ventures. The company intends to use the funds to further develop its proprietary platform and to expand its scientific and operational teams to move toward clinical translation.

Participated · Series B · Sep 2025

ARTHEx Biotech is a clinical-stage company specializing in targeted RNA medicines that precisely modulate gene expression across skeletal muscle, heart and brain tissues. Its lead program, ATX-01, is an oleic-acid-conjugated anti-miR oligonucleotide designed to inhibit microRNA-23b and restore MBNL protein function in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1); the drug is currently being evaluated in the randomized, placebo-controlled Phase I/IIa ArthemiR™ study. ATX-01 has secured Orphan Drug Designation in both the United States and Europe, as well as Rare Pediatric Disease Designation from the FDA. Preclinical data show the therapy increases MBNL production, reduces toxic DMPK mRNA and corrects spliceopathy in animal and cell models. Beyond DM1, ARTHEx is using its delivery platform to build a pipeline for additional muscular, CNS, cardiac and pulmonary diseases with high unmet need. The company’s headquarters are in Valencia, Spain, and it recently upsized its Series B financing to support preparation for a registrational study of ATX-01 and to broaden its pipeline. Including this round, the company has attracted backing from a consortium of European and U.S. life-science investors.

Participated · Equity · Sep 2025

Founded in 2020 as a spin-off of Hospital Clínic Barcelona and IDIBAPS, Gyala Therapeutics is advancing novel cell therapies that address unmet needs in blood cancers. Its lead candidate, GYA01, is a first-in-class CAR-T targeting the CD84 protein, which is highly over-expressed in acute myeloid leukemia, T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and other hematologic malignancies. The company has received authorization from the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices to begin a Phase I/IIa clinical trial of GYA01 at Hospital La Fe in Valencia and Hospital Clínic Barcelona. Gyala plans to use its newest capital to accelerate this trial, with Dr. Pau Montesinos and Dr. Jordi Esteve serving as principal investigators. To date, the biotech has secured €11 million in equity financing from Invivo Partners, Nara Capital, and CDTI Innvierte, supplemented by several Spanish innovation grants such as NEOTEC and Public-Private Collaboration Projects. The latest non-dilutive award brings total capital raised to roughly €14.7 million.

Participated · Series A · Sep 2025

Integra Therapeutics is a spin‑out from Pompeu Fabra University (founded in 2020) developing the FiCAT platform, which combines CRISPR‑Cas accuracy with an engineered piggyBac transposase to address payload size, stability, and accuracy limitations in gene therapy. The platform targets applications across genetic, oncological, and autoimmune diseases and is being used to advance next‑generation CAR‑T therapies. The company is also developing a first gene therapy candidate for a rare pediatric liver disease, supported by an EIC Accelerator grant. Integra plans to integrate new advances into FiCAT, expand cell engineering capabilities, and facilitate technology transfer to the pharmaceutical industry. The team intends to use new funding to support preclinical validation of CAR‑T programs and to scale its cell engineering operations. Leadership includes co‑founders Dr. Marc Güell and Dr. Avencia Sánchez‑Mejías; the company is based in Barcelona. Integra Therapeutics is a Barcelona‑based biotech spin‑off (founded 2020 from Pompeu Fabra University) developing FiCAT, a gene‑writing platform intended to overcome current limits on size, precision and stability. Its core product, FiCAT, targets ex vivo engineering of T cells and hematopoietic stem cells and systemic in vivo gene therapy using non‑viral lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery. The company plans to use initial funding to support pre‑marketing activities for cell therapy applications across rare diseases, autoimmune disorders and oncology. In parallel, Integra will generate proof‑of‑concept data for a first gene therapy aimed at a serious pediatric hepatic disease using systemic non‑viral delivery. Longer term, Integra intends to expand FiCAT to extra‑hepatic indications and to pursue licensing and co‑development partnerships to broaden patient access. The company is led by co‑founders Dr Marc Güell and Dr Avencia Sánchez‑Mejías. Integra Therapeutics develops next-generation gene writing tools and is advancing a gene writing platform called FiCAT to improve safety and efficacy of advanced therapies. The company targets prevention and treatment of genetic diseases and cancers with unmet medical needs. Co-founded by Marc Güell and Avencia Sánchez-Mejías, Integra is working toward a FiCAT platform prototype and preclinical validation. The planned preclinical work includes in vivo and ex vivo models. Financially, the company raised an additional €1.5m in seed funding in March 2022 following a €4.5m seed raise in December. The new investment includes participation from Columbus Venture Partners, which will place a representative on the board. Integra Therapeutics (Integra Tx) is a biotechnology spin-off from Pompeu Fabra University focused on creating next-generation gene writing tools to make advanced therapies safer and more effective. The company was founded in late 2020 based on technology developed in the Translational Synthetic Biology Lab led by Dr. Marc Güell and Avencia Sánchez-Mejías. Integra intends to complete a prototype of its gene writing platform and carry out preclinical validation using in vivo and ex vivo models. It plans to manage and expand its patent portfolio through 2022 and 2023. The company raised €4.5M in its first round of funding to support these development activities. After prototyping and preclinical work, Integra plans to open a Series A to seek regulatory approval and carry out clinical trials with patients.