French Biotech Exeliom Biosciences Raises €2.85M To Advance Cancer Immunotherapy

The round was led by existing investor Biocodex, with Crescent Ventures, UI Investissement, and Forepont Capital Partners participating. Since its 2016 founding, the company has raised nearly €30 million in combined dilutive and non-dilutive funding.

“Exeliom is deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our investors, which has enabled us to transform EXL01 from a microbiome therapy into a precision NOD2-targeting immunomodulator, using a live bacterial strain as its delivery mode,” said Benjamin Hadida, CEO of Exeliom.

This funding reflects a broader 2025 trend of investment in European immuno-oncology and immuno-inflammation startups.

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In Finland, TILT Biotherapeutics raised €22.6 million for IV-delivered cancer immunotherapies, while UK-Ireland’s LIfT BioSciences secured €12 million for neutrophil-based solid tumor therapies. Denmark’s SNIPR Biome raised €35 million for microbial and CRISPR therapeutics. Spain’s Highlight Therapeutics obtained €15 million for skin-tumor immunotherapies and Austria’s Graph Therapeutics closed €3 million pre-seed for AI-driven inflammation and immunology research.

Exeliom’s Series A extension underscores continued investor confidence in precision immunotherapies, placing France among a growing cohort of European companies advancing immune-modulating platforms. The company was last covered by EU-Startups in July 2023, following its €24 million Series A to develop microbiome-based immunotherapies.

“The evolution of this small-molecule-like approach unlocks new indications, not only expanding our therapeutic potential but also positioning us for international growth, including a new cancer study underway in the US,” added Hadida.

Founded in 2016, Exeliom Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotech company developing next-generation innate immune modulators to boost patients’ immune responses in cancer, inflammatory diseases, and chronic infections.

The new funding will advance the clinical development and global expansion of its lead programme, EXL01, including Phase 2 proof-of-concept studies and preparations for a new cancer indication in the US.

EXL01 a bacterial-derived NOD2-targeting immunomodulator activates macrophages and reshapes the immune microenvironment, potentially overcoming resistance to existing therapies and enhancing immunotherapy effectiveness.

The candidate is currently tested in three Phase 2 oncology trials combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors, including the world’s largest randomized Phase 2 study of a bacterial approach in gastric cancer. EXL01 has also completed Phase 1 in Crohn’s disease and is now in a Phase 2 randomized, placebo-controlled study, with an additional Phase 2 trial ongoing for preventing recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection.

“Supporting Exeliom Biosciences perfectly embodies a partnership rooted in scientific excellence guided by long term vision and driven by our shared conviction that microbiota-based innovation can transform the management of complex immune-mediated diseases. Together, we aim to turn pioneering science into sustainable health solutions for patients worldwide,” said Jean-Marie Lefevre, chairman of Biocodex.

Over the past two years, Exeliom has advanced understanding of EXL01’s mechanism of action, pinpointing NOD2 as its primary target.

The NOD2 pathway plays a crucial role in the innate immune system and is a validated pharmaceutical target with two approved drugs already in use. EXL01 demonstrates enhanced NOD2-agonist activity and triggers a unique signaling profile positioning it as a potential first-in-class therapy in this field.

“Forepont Capital are excited at the scientific and clinical advancements made by Exeliom, particularly that Faecalibacterium prausnitzii modulates the immune system via the NOD2 pathway, which is important for regulating innate immunity and is therefore an important target for therapeutics,” said Ismail Kola, senior partner at Forepont.