Oxford Spin-Out OMass Raises €275M to Push Small-Molecule Therapies Forward

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-16

OMass Therapeutics, a UK biotech spun out of Oxford, just closed an oversubscribed €275 million ($300 million) Series C round. The company is developing small-molecule drugs against tricky targets that have historically been hard to drug. This raise comes at a pivotal moment as OMass pushes its lead candidate into the clinic. ### Who's Betting Big on OMass? The round was co-led by new investors Bain Capital Life Sciences, Forbion, and Novo Holdings. They were joined by Janus Henderson Investors, SV Health Investors, and Jefferson Life Sciences. All existing investors also participated, including Syncona, Oxford Science Enterprises, GV, Northpond Ventures, Sanofi Ventures, British Business Bank, and the University of Oxford. That's a serious syndicate. > "This financing comes at an exciting point in OMass' evolution as we advance OMS1620 into the clinic, with our SLC15A4 inhibitor poised to follow," says Ros Deegan, CEO of OMass Therapeutics. "We have demonstrated the ability of our team and approach to discover and deliver a pipeline of first- and best-in-class programmes in endocrinology and immunology into the clinic." ### The Tech Behind the Hype Founded in 2016, OMass is a spin-out from Professor Dame Carol Robinson's lab at the University of Oxford. The company's proprietary OdyssION platform combines native mass spectrometry, novel biochemistry, and custom chemistry to study drug targets in their native environments. This gives researchers cell-system fidelity with cell-free precision, which is a fancy way of saying they can see how drugs interact with targets in a more realistic setting. ### A Wave of European Biotech Funding OMass' round is part of a broader surge in European therapeutics funding in 2026. Here's a quick look at other notable deals: - **Bionyra Pharma** (France) secured €143 million ($156 million) for inflammatory disease treatments. - **Breye Therapeutics** (Denmark) raised €67.5 million ($74 million) for its oral small-molecule pipeline. - **STORM Therapeutics** (UK) nabbed €47.5 million ($52 million). - **Microbiotica** (UK) raised €42 million ($46 million). - **Mironid** (UK) received €39.9 million ($43.5 million). - **Alchemab Therapeutics** (UK) secured €29.3 million ($32 million). - **Laigo Bio** (Netherlands) added €5.5 million ($6 million). Together, these deals represent about €374.7 million ($409 million) in new financing during 2026. Add OMass' round, and that number jumps to €649.7 million ($709 million). Clearly, investors are hungry for innovative biotech. ### What's Next for OMass? The fresh capital will mainly support OMS1620, a potential best-in-class MC2 receptor antagonist. It's headed into Phase 2 trials for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome. OMS1620 is designed to stay on the receptor longer, which could improve outcomes for patients. Evan Greif, Principal at Bain Capital Life Sciences, said, "OMass leverages an experienced team and a clear vision for building a leading therapeutics company that translates complex biology into differentiated medicines for patients with significant unmet needs." He also noted the potential for OMS1620 to improve treatment for CAH patients. Max Klement, Partner at Novo Holdings, added, "We are pleased to join a premier investor syndicate supporting OMass as the Company advances its breakthrough programs into the clinic." With this raise, OMass is well-positioned to make a real difference in endocrinology and immunology. Keep an eye on this one – they're just getting started.