French BioTech Startup TAFALGIE THERAPEUTICS Raises €12 Million In Series A Round

The funding round drew new business angels, especially family offices, alongside returning investors. Previous backers include Bpifrance and the EIC.

“I would like to thank all the investors who participated in this new round of financing. Their commitment and trust reinforce our determination to provide safe and effective therapeutic solutions to the millions of patients suffering from pain as quickly as possible, without the harmful side effects of opioid-based medications.

“While many companies are struggling to secure financing, TAFALGIE THERAPEUTICS continues to strengthen its financial structure to support its roadmap and intends to extend this Series A round soon through an innovative arrangement,” said Eric Schettini, Co-founder and CEO of TAFALGIE THERAPEUTICS.

Founded in 2020 as a CNRS and Aix-Marseille University spin-off, TAFALGIE THERAPEUTICS develops next-generation pain treatments using TAFA4 protein compounds, targeting acute, chronic, neuropathic, inflammatory, and post-operative pain without the side effects of traditional painkillers.

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This latest funding round, considered an uncommon approach in the biopharma sector, shows rising family office interest in medium-sized, high-tech private equity investments.

The funds will advance TT5, the company’s main TAFA4-derived drug, through Phase 2A trials, support development of two additional candidates, and strengthen research and clinical teams to build a leading pain-treatment discovery platform.

The platform aims to address a major public health crisis. TAFALGIE reports over 727,000 opioid-related deaths in the U.S. from 1999 to 2022, reducing life expectancy by 0.67 years in 2022. In Europe, opioid deaths rose notably from 2000 to 2015, with tramadol being France’s deadliest painkiller between 2013 and 2022.

“From an operational standpoint, the funds raised will enable us to continue developing TT5, which entered Phase 1 (TAFAFIRST study) this summer, until the completion of its Phase 2A trials, and to initiate clinical studies of our two other leads by 2027. At that point, TAFALGIE THERAPEUTICS should be ideally positioned to finalise discussions with pharmaceutical companies to finance the final clinical stages,” added Schettini.

The TAFAFIRST study, launched in Australia with CMAX and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, is testing TT5’s safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and biological effects.

This double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involves 94 participants, starting with single ascending doses, then multiple ascending doses and finally testing TT5 in post-surgical settings. Initial results are expected between late 2025 and early 2026.

With €6.5 million in additional non-dilutive funding from Bpifrance and the EU, the company is advancing strongly toward transforming pain treatment.

About Tafalgie Therapeutics

Tafalgie Therapeutics, a CNRS and AMU spin-off, develops next-generation pain treatments using TAFA4 protein-derived peptides. Their goal is safe, effective, non-addictive therapies for acute and chronic pain, aiming to become a leading innovator and partner with global pharmaceutical companies.