Spain’s Adaptam Therapeutics Raises €3M To Target Immune Cells That Enable Tumor Resistance

The funding round, led by Criteria Bio Ventures, will help Adaptam Therapeutics advance its programs and move into the preclinical stage across multiple cancer types. As part of the investment, Dr. Salvatore Cappadona and Dr. Pablo Cironi from Criteria Bio Ventures have joined the company’s board of directors.

“Immunosuppressive myeloid cells within tumors present one of the toughest challenges in immunotherapy today. Our goal is to neutralise this obstacle by developing therapies that specifically target these cells, offering patients new hope where traditional approaches have failed,” said Asis Palazon, PhD, founder, CEO and CSO of Adaptam.

Adaptam’s newly closed €3 million pre-seed round aligns with a growing wave of European immuno-oncology investment in 2025. The Spanish biotech stands out for its focus on immunosuppressive myeloid cells within the tumour microenvironment — a more targeted approach than many tumour-wide therapies.

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Across Europe, Exeliom Biosciences (France) raised €2.85M to advance cancer immunotherapy, Lithea AB (Sweden) secured €851K for childhood bone cancer treatment and Trogenix (UK) closed an €80M Series A for curative therapies.

Though these rounds vary in size and stage, they reflect strong investor confidence in oncology innovation. Adaptam’s work in glyco-immune checkpoint modulation adds a uniquely Spanish edge to Europe’s growing cancer immunotherapy landscape.

“The support from Criteria Bio Ventures enables us to take a step forward in achieving our mission. We are now actively planning our next funding round to support IND-enabling studies,” added Palazon.

Founded in 2023, Adaptam Therapeutics is a biotech spin-off from CIC bioGUNE developing first-in-class antibody therapies for solid tumours.

The company emerged from the research of Prof. Asis Palazon and his team in Bilbao, Spain, with strategic guidance from Criteria Bio Ventures on its formation and business direction.

Adaptam focuses on the immunosuppressive myeloid tumour microenvironment targeting glyco-immune checkpoints found in tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs). Its pipeline includes antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and bispecific antibodies aiming to unlock new frontiers in immuno-oncology.

Backed by Criteria Bio Ventures and ERC funding, Adaptam is on a mission to bring innovative cancer therapies to patients.

“We are thrilled to support Adaptam in its mission to transform cancer treatment by targeting the immunosuppressive cells within the TME. The scientific breakthroughs achieved by Prof. Asis Palazon and his team have laid the groundwork for potentially life-changing therapies ” said Pablo Cironi, PhD, chairman of the Adaptam board. “With this strong foundation, we believe Adaptam is well-positioned to deliver new, effective treatments for patients with solid tumors, addressing critical gaps in current immunotherapy options.”

Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer care, providing new hope to patients worldwide. Yet, many still don’t respond to treatment or eventually develop resistance.

According to the company, this often stems from the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment (TME), which weakens the immune system’s ability to attack cancer cells. A key driver of this suppression is myeloid cells, especially tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), that block T-cell activity.

This issue is particularly severe in solid tumours, where these myeloid cells create conditions that prevent immune cells from mounting an effective anti-cancer response.

“Adaptam’s differentiated approach at the intersection of myeloid-mediated immunosuppression and glycobiology represents a one-of-a-kind vision uniquely positioned to unlock the next frontier in cancer immunotherapy. We are proud to have partnered with Asis Palazon to build this exciting new venture and support its next phase of development.

“We are confident that Adaptam’s emerging pipeline offers a game-changing opportunity to transform cancer treatment for many patients,” said Salvatore Cappadona, PhD, board member of Adaptam.

Some of the key structural and functional discoveries about immune-modulating glycan-binding proteins and how they interact with immune cells were previously published in Nature Communications.

“CIC bioGUNE’s long-standing leadership in glycobiology provided the scientific foundation for Adaptam and we have supported the company from its earliest steps through to today’s preclinical maturation,” said Prof. Jesús Jiménez-Barbero, scientific director of CIC bioGUNE.

About Adaptam Therapeutics

Adaptam Therapeutics is a biotech spin-off from CIC bioGUNE developing first-in-class antibody therapies for solid tumors. It targets the immunosuppressive myeloid tumor microenvironment via novel glyco-immune checkpoints. Backed by Criteria Bio Ventures and ERC funding, Adaptam advances ADCs and bispecific antibodies to create next-generation cancer immunotherapies.