Nouscom, a Basel-based biotech company, has secured €120 million ($135 million) in Series D financing to accelerate the clinical development of its neoantigen-based cancer immunotherapy. The oversubscribed round was co-led by M Ventures and Revelation Partners, with participation from a consortium of established life sciences investors.
The financing syndicate included Angelini Ventures, the European Investment Bank (EIB), Neva SGR (part of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group), 5AM Ventures, Andera Partners, Bpifrance, CDP Venture Capital, EQT Life Sciences, Indaco Venture Partners, Panakes Partners, Versant Ventures, and XGEN Ventures. The broad investor participation underscores confidence in Nouscom’s approach to addressing an underserved patient population.
Targeting an Urgent Medical Need
Founded in 2015, Nouscom has developed NOUS-209, an off-the-shelf therapeutic designed to leverage the body’s immune system to prevent cancer development. The fresh capital will support advancing NOUS-209 through a single, global, registration-enabling clinical trial focused on cancer interception in Lynch Syndrome carriers.
Lynch Syndrome represents a significant unmet medical need. According to Nouscom Chief Executive Officer Marina Udier, “Over two million LS carriers live with up to an 80% lifetime cancer risk and nothing to offer them but surveillance and surgery.” This statement underscores the clinical urgency driving the company’s development efforts, as current standard-of-care options remain limited for individuals carrying Lynch Syndrome mutations.
A New Approach to Cancer Prevention
Nouscom’s neoantigen-based platform represents an emerging category within cancer immunotherapy, one that aims to prevent malignancy rather than treat established tumors. By personalizing treatment to target patient-specific mutations, the company seeks to offer a proactive intervention for high-risk populations like Lynch Syndrome carriers.
The Series D financing demonstrates investor conviction in both the scientific approach and the commercial opportunity. Lynch Syndrome carriers typically undergo intensive surveillance protocols and preventive surgeries, creating a distinct patient population actively seeking alternative preventive strategies.
European Biotech Momentum
The funding round reflects continued strength in European biotech financing, particularly in specialized oncology segments. The participation of the European Investment Bank and French development bank Bpifrance highlights institutional support for innovative healthcare solutions within the EU. Swiss biotech continues to attract significant capital, with Basel remaining a hub for immunotherapy and cancer research innovation.
Nouscom’s progression toward a registration-enabling trial represents a critical inflection point for the company. Success in this phase could establish a new therapeutic category for cancer prevention and potentially expand treatment options for patients with hereditary cancer syndromes beyond Lynch Syndrome.
The company joins a growing roster of European biotechs advancing precision medicine approaches to oncology, contributing to the continent’s competitive position in next-generation cancer therapeutics development.