Biotech startup Nanoligent, a leader in targeted nanodrug development for cancer therapy, has secured €12 million in new funding to accelerate its clinical pipeline and manufacturing scale-up.
The round was led by Inveready, through its Inveready Biotech IV Fund, with participation from CDTI (via the Innvierte program) and Clave Capital (through Clave Innohealth Fund). Existing investors i&i Biotech Fund I, Italian Angels for Growth, and Avanteca also joined the round.
Catalyzing a new class of targeted nanomedicines
Founded in 2017 as a spin-off from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau Research Institute, Nanoligent develops precision nanodrugs that selectively target tumour cells using advanced protein engineering and nanobiotechnology.
Its lead candidate, NNL1524, focuses on the CXCR4 receptor — a critical driver of tumour growth and metastasis in cancers such as colorectal, lung, and breast cancer. Preclinical studies have shown that NNL1524 can significantly reduce tumour size with minimal toxicity, indicating strong potential as a next-generation oncology treatment.
“This is a defining moment for Nanoligent,” said Montserrat Cano, CEO of Nanoligent. “We are deeply grateful for the trust of both our new and returning investors. Their expertise and support will be instrumental as we enter clinical development and work to bring our technology closer to the patients who need it most.”
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Funding to accelerate clinical trials and manufacturing
The new capital will be used to complete preclinical development of NNL1524, initiate Phase Ia clinical trials in patients with solid tumours, and scale up manufacturing to support clinical and commercial readiness.
“We strongly believe in the potential of Nanoligent’s nanodrugs to overcome the limitations of traditional cytotoxic therapies,” said Antonio Herce, Director at Inveready. “Their low molecular weight, high cellular internalisation, and strong target selectivity represent a breakthrough in precision oncology. We’re proud to lead this round alongside such a strong syndicate of biotech investors.”
A new era for precision oncology in Spain
Nanoligent’s platform is designed to combine the precision of biologics with the potency of small molecules, enabling the selective delivery of therapeutic agents directly to tumour markers while minimising systemic toxicity.
With this approach, the company aims to address one of oncology’s greatest challenges — how to destroy cancer cells effectively without harming healthy tissue.
About Nanoligent
Nanoligent is a Barcelona-based biotechnology company developing precision nanodrugs for cancer treatment. Leveraging protein engineering and nanobiotechnology, its therapies selectively target diseased cells to improve efficacy and safety. Its lead program, NNL1524, is advancing toward clinical trials for solid tumours, marking a major step forward in the evolution of targeted cancer therapies.
