Actithera, an Oslo and Cambridge-based biotech company focused on radioligand therapies, has closed a $75.5 million Series A financing round to support the clinical development of its lead fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-targeting candidate and further build out its discovery platform and preclinical pipeline. The round was co-led by M Ventures, Hadean Ventures, Sofinnova Partners and 4BIO Capital, with participation from Bioqube Ventures, Surveyor Capital, Innovestor, Investinor, and Arkin Bio Ventures II. Founded by Dr. Andreas Goutopoulos, Actithera uses a proprietary platform combining covalent targeting, rational drug design, and radiochemistry to develop small molecule radioligands aimed at improving tumor retention and therapeutic precision. The funding will be used to initiate clinical trials and expand the company’s pipeline of radiopharmaceutical candidates.
The Company’s discovery platform combines rational drug design with radiochemistry to create novel small molecule radioligands that overcome current limitations in radiopharmaceutical development. Its three-pillar platform includes first-in-class covalent targeting strategies, designed to optimize tumor residence time, while ensuring rapid systemic clearance – improving precision, safety, and efficacy. Two additional proprietary approaches further support compound differentiation and improve tumor residence time and selectivity. This platform was validated through Actithera’s work on FAP, a high-value theranostic target known for being difficult to drug with molecules that maintain prolonged tumor residency. These efforts have resulted in a FAP-directed RLT development candidate with best-in-class potential due to its optimal pharmacokinetic profile and tumor specificity.
Dr. Andreas Goutopoulos, founder and CEO, brings over 25 years of pharmaceutical and biotech industry experience, including a track record of more than a dozen development candidates. His background includes over a decade of discovery leadership at EMD Serono, where he led medicinal chemistry. In his role as Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) at M Ventures, he led the scientific efforts of and supported a number of oncology small molecule biotechs. At Actithera, he is pioneering a chemistry-driven, precision approach to RLTs by integrating novel covalent-targeting chemistries, rational drug design principles and an isotope-agnostic philosophy.
“We set out to bring structure-based and kinetics-driven thinking from small molecule drug design into the world of radiopharmaceuticals,” said Dr. Andreas Goutopoulos. “This oversubscribed Series A, backed by a truly global and experienced investor syndicate, is strong validation of our approach. We engineer our radioconjugates for extended retention within tumors, making them ideally suited for longer-lived radionuclides and ultimately delivering more convenient dosing schedules and enhanced efficacy and safety for patients.”
Karl Naegler, incoming Board member and Partner at Sofinnova Partners, noted:
“Actithera is applying Big Pharma discipline to an emerging field with enormous potential. Its radioligand therapies represent a meaningful shift in oncology, with the opportunity to redefine the therapeutic index. We’re excited to support that vision.”
Roger Franklin, incoming Board member and Partner at Hadean Ventures, added:
“Actithera stands out as one of the most thoughtfully constructed radiopharma platforms we’ve seen, combining smart molecular design with a deep understanding of tumor biology and clinical need. The team’s work to align pharmacokinetics with therapeutic effect could transform how patients experience and benefit from radioligand therapies.”
Therese Liechtenstein, incoming Board member and Investment Director at 4BIO Capital, added:
“We are honored to support Actithera, whose molecules address key challenges in the nascent radioligand therapies space; a large therapeutic window through high tumor retention and low systemic exposure, applied to a lead program that has significant pan-tumor therapeutic potential.”
Hakan Goker, current Chairman of Actithera, and Managing Director at M Ventures, said:
“We are excited to see Actithera evolve from the one-person ideation we seeded with Andreas and Arkin to the transatlantic company it has become today. The innovative chemistry platform built and the first-in-class approach on FAP have the potential for a large impact in the RLT field and a significant benefit for patients. We welcome the new investor group and Board members to the company aligned with this bold vision of building the next generation of RLTs.”
As part of the Series A financing, Roger Franklin, Partner at Hadean Ventures, Karl Naegler, Partner at Sofinnova Partners, Therese Liechtenstein, Investment Director at 4BIO Capital, and Debbie Dumont, Managing Partner at Bioqube Ventures will join the Actithera Board of Directors, including Noga Yerushalmi, Investment Director at M Ventures, who is currently on the Board.
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Read the orginal article: https://arcticstartup.com/actithera-raises-75-5-million/
