Brenus Pharma, a Lyon-based clinical-stage biotech developing immunotherapy treatments to prevent cancer recurrence, has raised €11M in an extension of its Series A round, bringing total funding since founding to €38M.
The round was supported by existing investors including Angelor, UI Investissement, Crédit Agricole, Noshaq, Orsa, BIO JAG, and Bpifrance, and also attracted new international capital. The funding will be used to complete the company’s Phase I programme and advance its next drug candidate through its in vivo immunotherapy platform.
Addressing The Market Opportunity
Cancer recurrence remains one of the most significant unmet needs in oncology. Current treatments for hard-to-treat solid tumours are often limited in effectiveness, and as tumours evolve, they can become increasingly difficult for both the immune system and existing therapies to target. Brenus Pharma was founded to address this challenge through a platform designed to make cancer cells consistently recognizable to the immune system, even as the tumour changes over time.
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How The Technology Works
Brenus Pharma’s approach is built around an off-the-shelf immunotherapy platform that copies the way tumour proteins present themselves, training the immune system to identify and attack cancer cells more effectively. The technology is designed to enhance the immune system’s ability to detect cancer rather than relying solely on direct pharmacological intervention.
The platform is adaptable, adjusting to changes in tumour composition over time, which gives it potential applicability in cases where current treatments lose effectiveness as the cancer evolves. The company is advancing its lead candidate through a Phase I clinical programme alongside the development of its next drug candidate.
Growth And Market Traction
Founded in 2019 by Benoit Pinteur, Brenus Pharma has built its immunotherapy platform to the point of early clinical validation, attracting the continued backing of all its existing investors in this extension round. The round also brought in Korea Omega Investment Corp, marking the Korean firm’s first investment in France, drawn by the combination of differentiated technology and clinical progress.
Expansion Plans
The €11M extension will fund the completion of Brenus Pharma’s Phase I programme and the acceleration of its in vivo immunotherapy platform through the advancement of its next drug candidate. The company is focused on building out its clinical evidence base as it moves toward later-stage development.
Looking Ahead
Paul Bravetti, CEO of Brenus Pharma, described the significance of the round for the company’s next phase: “We are proud to welcome international investors who share our vision, and grateful for the continued confidence of our existing backers. This funding will enable us to complete the Phase I program and continue accelerating our in vivo immunotherapy platform by advancing our next drug candidate.”
Dae Kyeong Bae, Senior Vice President at Korea Omega Investment Corp, explained what attracted the firm to its first French investment: “The company combines truly differentiated technology with early clinical validation and a team executing at pace. This is exactly the type of European innovation we want to support as we expand our portfolio internationally. We look forward to supporting Brenus as it advances its innovation toward a new treatment for patients with significant unmet medical needs.”
About Brenus Pharma
Brenus Pharma is a Lyon-based clinical-stage biotech company founded in 2019 by Benoit Pinteur. The company develops an off-the-shelf in vivo immunotherapy platform designed to make cancer cells more recognizable to the immune system, with a focus on hard-to-treat solid tumours. Its technology adapts to tumour evolution, offering a potential treatment option in cases where current therapies lose effectiveness. Brenus Pharma has raised €38M in total funding since its founding.
