T-CURX GmbH, a biotechnology start-up based in Würzburg, has successfully secured $20 million in its initial financing round. This investment, led by the Swiss firm BiomedVC, includes contributions from a consortium of international investors from Europe and Asia. The funding aims to expedite the development of non-viral CAR-T therapies targeting acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and various solid tumours.
The company, founded in 2017, plans to use these funds to enhance its proprietary technologies, which focus on the direct production of CAR-T cells within the body. The goal is to simplify and expedite the process of delivering innovative cancer therapies, making them more accessible and cost-effective for patients who need them.
Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment
T-CURX is a spin-off from the University Medical Centre Würzburg, associated with Professor Michael Hudecek, who holds the Chair of Cellular Immunotherapy at the University Hospital Würzburg (UKW). CAR-T cell therapy has emerged as one of the most effective treatments for cancer, wherein T cells from the patient are modified to recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively. Traditionally, this therapy has been reserved for late-stage treatments due to its high costs.
The biotechnology start-up is dedicated to making CAR-T therapies not only more affordable but also broadly available. It is currently developing non-viral CAR-T cells suitable for treating multiple cancer types, including AML and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).
“We intend to use the funds from the current financing round to advance our clinical trials: The leading programme is to complete the phase 1 trial and enter phase 2,” stated co-founder Michael Hudecek.
Significance of the Investment
Tim J. von Oertzen, Medical Director and Chairman of the Board at UKW, emphasized the significance of this funding. “The fact that a start-up that emerged from the University Hospital of Würzburg has reached this important milestone is a huge success. And it is proof of the quality of our innovative strength and its relevance for patient care.”
Matthias Bode, Vice President for Innovation and Knowledge Transfer at the University of Würzburg, echoed this sentiment, stating, “The funding of our spin-off T-CURX is a great success not only for the University of Würzburg but for the entire innovation ecosystem in Lower Franconia. This shows once again what powerful ideas our scientists have.”
According to Dr. Ulf Grawunder, co-founder and CEO of T-CURX, the support from an international consortium of investors highlights the therapeutic potential of their pipeline in AML, CLL, and solid tumour indications.
The Service Centre for Research and Technology Transfer (SFT) at the University of Würzburg played a crucial role in guiding Professor Hudecek and his team through the founding process of T-CURX. The SFT provided valuable advice on the spin-off and assisted with funding applications.
In addition to BiomedVC, the investment round featured participation from Bayern Kapital, HighLight Capital (HLC), and the i&i Biotech Fund, along with support from private investors. T-CURX’s collaboration with Bayern Kapital has facilitated access to funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union. This fund aims to bolster the “STEP” objective (“Strategic Technologies for Europe”), which seeks to enhance Europe’s competitiveness and technological resilience.
Bayern Kapital’s selection as a project of strategic importance under the Bavarian ERDF programme provides a total of €58.3 million for the Bayern Kapital Innovation Fund ERDF II.
As T-CURX moves forward, the company is poised to make significant contributions to the field of cancer treatment, bringing hope to patients and families affected by these challenging diseases.
