This French Biotech Just Raised $12.6M to Tackle Cold Tumors

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-22

Brenus Pharma, a clinical-stage biotech based in Lyon, France, just pulled in an $11 million (€11 million) extension to its Series A round. That brings their total funding to $43.4 million (€38 million) since they started in 2019. The company is laser-focused on preventing cancer recurrence, especially in hard-to-treat solid tumors. This isn't just another funding round. It's a signal that investors are doubling down on a technology that could change how we think about immunotherapy. The round saw strong support from existing backers like Angelor, UI Investissement (managing FRAI), Crédit Agricole (through CACE Création and CACF Capital Innovation), Noshaq, Orsa (formerly Investsud), BIO JAG, and Bpifrance (via non-dilutive funding). But here's the kicker: two new international investors also joined—Sambrinvest and Korea Omega Investment Corp. That's a big vote of confidence from outside Europe. ### What Brenus Pharma Does Differently Founded in 2019, Brenus Pharma is developing what they call an off-the-shelf platform for immuno-oncology. Instead of customizing therapies for each patient, they're building a scalable approach that mimics tumor protein expression. The idea is to make tumors visible to the immune system, triggering a multi-specific in vivo immune response that adapts as the tumor evolves. That's a big deal because most solid tumors—about 85% of them—are immunologically "cold." That means they don't respond well to current immunotherapies. Their technology targets dendritic cells, which are like the generals of the immune system. By engaging these cells, the platform aims to convert cold tumors into hot ones, generating de novo immune responses. The company explains that this approach mobilizes the patient's own immune system against evolving cancer, without the need for patient-specific cell manipulation. That's a major advantage over personalized or DNA-RNA-engineered therapies. ### The Lead Candidate: STC-1010 Brenus Pharma's lead candidate is STC-1010, a next-generation in vivo allogeneic immunotherapy built on their Stimulated Ghost Cells (SGC) technology. It's targeting metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), specifically the microsatellite stable (MSS) subtype. That's a tough nut to crack, and most treatments fall short. Just recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted the company's Investigational New Drug (IND) application for STC-1010. That's a green light to start clinical trials in the U.S., which is a huge milestone for a French startup. ### What the Investors Say Paul Bravetti, CEO of Brenus Pharma, said: "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., added: "We couldn't be more confident in our first investment in France. The company combines truly differentiated technology with early clinical validation and team executing at pace. This is exactly the type of European innovation we want to support as we expand our portfolio internationally." ### What's Next for Brenus Pharma? The company plans to use this capital to push STC-1010 through its Phase I program and unlock the broader potential of its platform across other hard-to-treat solid tumors. They're also building international momentum, which could lead to partnerships or even a U.S. expansion down the line. For now, Brenus Pharma is a name to watch in the biotech space. With $43.4 million in total funding, FDA acceptance, and a platform that could address 85% of solid tumors, they're positioning themselves as a serious player in the fight against cancer. And with new international investors on board, the story is just getting started.