Clinical-stage biotech Exeliom Biosciences has secured an additional €2.85 million in Series A funding, bringing its total Series A round to €11.85 million.
The extension, led by existing investor Biocodex with participation from Crescent Ventures, UI Investissement, and Forepont Capital Partners, brings Exeliom’s total financing to nearly €30 million since its founding in 2016.
The funding will accelerate clinical development and global expansion of Exeliom’s lead programme, EXL01, a bacterial-derived NOD2-targeting immunomodulator designed to boost innate immune responses in cancer and inflammatory diseases.
“This new investment allows us to expand EXL01 from a microbiome therapy into a precision immunomodulator that acts directly through the NOD2 pathway,” said Benjamin Hadida, CEO of Exeliom Biosciences. “By using a live bacterial strain as a delivery mode, we’ve developed a unique approach that reprograms the immune microenvironment and enhances the effectiveness of existing immunotherapies.”
Strengthening Europe’s Immuno-Oncology Ecosystem
Exeliom Biosciences’ raise comes amid a surge of investor interest in European immuno-oncology and immuno-inflammation startups. In recent months:
- TILT Biotherapeutics (Finland) raised €22.6M for IV-delivered cancer immunotherapies.
- LIfT BioSciences (UK-Ireland) closed €12M for neutrophil-based solid tumor therapies.
- SNIPR Biome (Denmark) secured €35M for microbial and CRISPR therapeutics.
- Highlight Therapeutics (Spain) raised €15M for skin-tumor immunotherapies.
- Graph Therapeutics (Austria) raised €3M pre-seed for AI-driven inflammation research.
Against that backdrop, Exeliom’s Series A extension underscores France’s growing leadership in precision immunotherapies, positioning the company among Europe’s most advanced developers of immune-modulating biotherapeutics.
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EXL01: Redefining How the Immune System Is Modulated
EXL01, Exeliom Biosciences‘ flagship candidate, is a live bacterial immunomodulator that activates macrophages and reshapes the immune microenvironment, potentially overcoming resistance to checkpoint inhibitors.
The candidate is currently:
- Being tested in three Phase 2 oncology trials, combined with checkpoint inhibitors — including the world’s largest randomized Phase 2 trial of a bacterial approach in gastric cancer.
- Completing a Phase 2 study in Crohn’s disease, following a successful Phase 1.
- Advancing a Phase 2 trial for preventing recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection.
Hadida noted that the company is also preparing for a new U.S.-based cancer study, part of its strategy to expand internationally and pursue FDA engagement.
“The evolution of our small-molecule-like approach unlocks new indications and positions Exeliom for global growth,” Hadida added.
Backed by Deep Scientific and Strategic Partnerships
“Supporting Exeliom reflects a partnership grounded in scientific excellence and a long-term vision,” said Jean-Marie Lefevre, Chairman of Biocodex. “Together, we aim to translate microbiota-based innovation into sustainable health solutions for patients worldwide.”
Ismail Kola, Senior Partner at Forepont Capital, added:
“Exeliom’s research has confirmed that Faecalibacterium prausnitzii modulates the immune system via the NOD2 pathway — a crucial mechanism for innate immunity and a validated therapeutic target.”
Over the past two years, Exeliom has advanced its understanding of NOD2 activation, a key regulator of innate immunity and inflammatory response. With enhanced NOD2-agonist activity, EXL01 demonstrates a unique signaling profile, making it a potential first-in-class therapy in precision immunomodulation.
About Exeliom Biosciences
Founded in 2016, Exeliom Biosciences is a Paris-based clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation innate immune modulators for cancer, inflammatory, and infectious diseases. By leveraging a bacterial-derived NOD2-targeting approach, Exeliom aims to deliver new immunotherapies that enhance immune system function and improve patient outcomes worldwide.
