Kupando, a pioneering biopharmaceutical company developing a TLR 4/7 agonist that stimulates innate immunity and induces trained immunity for use in oncology and infectious diseases, today announced that it has secured an additional €10 million in Series A financing. This latest investment brings Startup’s total Series A funding to €23 million.
The investment was again led by Remiges Ventures, co-led by LifeCare Partners, with additional investments by all other existing investors, among them Brandenburg Kapital, High-Tech Gründerfonds and Ventura Biomed Investors. Carma Fund joined as a new investor. The proceeds will be used to fund the Phase 1b clinical study of startup’s lead candidate, KUP101, in advanced solid tumors and to accelerate its preclinical programs in infectious diseases.
Kupando’s disruptive approach harnesses the power of innate immune stimulation and induction of trained innate immunity by dual Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) agonists. Its lead candidate, KUP101, is a differentiated dual TLR 4 and 7 agonist with a robust preclinical profile approaching clinical development. KUP101 is ideally suited for the systemic treatment of solid tumors (tissue agnostic), and the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, including antimicrobial-resistant infections. Its AMR program is being sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.
Johanna Holldack, MD, Founder and CEO of Kupando, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the continued strong support from our existing investors and excited to welcome Carma Fund to the Kupando family. This additional funding is a testament to the potential of our innovative dual TLR agonist platform and will be instrumental in advancing KUP101 into clinical studies for solid tumors and accelerating our crucial work in infectious diseases. Our mission is to leverage the natural resilience of the innate immune system to deliver truly transformative therapies for patients in critical need.”
New investor Martin Raditsch, PhD, Managing Partner of Carma Fund, commented: “Kupando’s unique approach to leveraging innate immunity holds immense promise across oncology and infectious diseases. This successful funding round, especially in the current challenging financial climate, underscores the confidence we, as investors, have in Kupando’s science, team, and potential to deliver impactful solutions for unmet medical needs.”
Kazuhiko Nonomura, PhD, Partner of Remiges Ventures and member of Kupando’s Advisory Board, added: “Remiges Ventures is proud to continue leading the investment in the company. We believe Kupando’s dual TLR 4 and 7 agonist technology, particularly KUP101, has the potential to redefine treatment paradigms in both cancer and infectious diseases. We are excited to see the company transition to the clinical stage and unlock the full potential of its pipeline.”
The startup was founded by its CEO Johanna Holldack, MD, driven by the natural resilience observed in animals relying solely on innate immunity. Recognizing the historically undervalued yet critical role of this system, especially with the new understanding of innate and trained immunity, Kupando has made it the core of its therapeutic approach.
