French Biotech Adcytherix Secures €105 Million Series A for ADC Development

Adcytherix, a French antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) specialist, has successfully closed a €105 million ($122 million) Series A funding round, marking a significant milestone in the company's journey to advance its lead candidate into clinical trials. The Marseille-based biotech plans to leverage this substantial investment to file regulatory applications in multiple countries by year-end and expand its ADC pipeline.

Funding Details and Investor Lineup

The Series A round was led by Bpifrance, with participation from a roster of prominent investors including Kurma Partners, Andera Partners, Angelini Ventures, Citadel's Surveyor Capital, and aMoon. Notably, all of Adcytherix's founders and previous investors also contributed to this funding round, underscoring confidence in the company's vision and scientific approach.

This latest financial injection more than triples Adcytherix's previous funding, following a €30 million seed round in June 2024, which was spearheaded by Pontifax Venture Capital. The successful closure of this Series A positions Adcytherix as a formidable player in the European ADC landscape, with CEO and founder Jack Elands, Ph.D., hailing it as "the largest ADC-focused Series A in Europe in 2025."

Strategic Plans and Pipeline Development

Adcytherix has outlined an ambitious strategy for utilizing the newly acquired funds. The company's primary focus is on advancing its lead candidate, ADCX-020, towards clinical trials. To this end, Adcytherix aims to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in the United States by the end of the year. Simultaneously, the biotech plans to submit clinical trial applications in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Europe.

While specific details about ADCX-020's target indication remain undisclosed, Adcytherix has stated its commitment to developing novel treatments for cancers with high unmet needs. The substantial funding will also support efforts to expand the company's ADC pipeline, potentially accelerating the development of additional candidates.

Industry Context and ADC Market Dynamics

Adcytherix's successful funding round comes at a time of mixed fortunes for ADC-focused companies. The sector has seen both significant investments and notable setbacks in 2025. For instance, Minghui Pharmaceutical secured a $131 million Series B in August, while Callio Therapeutics launched with a $187 million Series A. However, the field has also witnessed challenges, with companies like Sutro Biopharma and ADC Therapeutics facing layoffs and strategic shifts.

The team behind Adcytherix brings valuable experience from their previous venture, Emergence Therapeutics, another European ADC developer that was acquired by Eli Lilly in June 2023. This track record adds credibility to Adcytherix's ambitions and may have contributed to investor confidence in the current funding round.

As Adcytherix prepares to transition its lead candidate into clinical trials, the company's progress will be closely watched by industry observers. The substantial Series A funding not only validates the company's scientific approach but also highlights the continued interest in ADC technology as a promising avenue for cancer treatment.