Oxford Spin-Out OMass Therapeutics Raises $298M to Bring Small-Molecule Therapies to Patients

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-16

OMass Therapeutics, a UK biotech company developing small-molecule therapeutics against highly validated target ecosystems, has announced an oversubscribed $298 million (€275 million) Series C round. The round was co-led by new investors Bain Capital Life Sciences, Forbion, and Novo Holdings, with additional participation from Janus Henderson Investors, SV Health Investors, and Jefferson Life Sciences. All existing investors also joined, including Syncona, Oxford Science Enterprises, GV, Northpond Ventures, Sanofi Ventures, British Business Bank, and the University of Oxford. ### A Milestone for OMass "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." She adds, "With the backing of an outstanding group of new and existing investors, we are entering our next phase of growth with the resources to translate that progress into a portfolio of clinically differentiated medicines for patients." ### European Therapeutics Funding Heats Up in 2026 OMass' Series C is part of a wave of significant European therapeutics funding rounds in 2026. In France, Bionyra Pharma secured $155 million (€143 million) for inflammatory disease treatments, while Denmark's Breye Therapeutics raised $73 million (€67.5 million) for its oral small-molecule pipeline, also co-led by Novo Holdings. In the UK, Cambridge-based STORM Therapeutics secured $51.5 million (€47.5 million), Microbiotica raised $45.5 million (€42 million), Glasgow-based Mironid received $43.3 million (€39.9 million), and London-based Alchemab Therapeutics secured $31.8 million (€29.3 million). Together with the Netherlands' Laigo Bio, which secured an additional $6 million (€5.5 million), these announcements represent approximately $406 million (€374.7 million) in newly reported financing during 2026, rising to $704 million (€649.7 million) when OMass' round is included. ### Investor Confidence "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," adds Evan Greif, Principal at Bain Capital Life Sciences. "The Company is executing against that vision by advancing OMS1620 and applying its proprietary discovery approach to build a broader pipeline across endocrinology and immunology. We see meaningful potential for OMS1620 to improve the treatment for patients with CAH and look forward to partnering with Ros and the team to support the Company's strategic and patient-first approach." ### From Oxford Lab to Clinical Stage Founded in 2016, OMass was spun out from Professor Dame Carol Robinson's lab at the University of Oxford to translate native mass spectrometry research into novel small-molecule therapeutics against historically challenging targets. Its proprietary OdyssION drug discovery platform combines next-generation native mass spectrometry, novel biochemistry techniques, and custom chemistry to interrogate drug targets within their native ecosystems, providing cell-system fidelity with cell-free precision. "We are pleased to join a premier investor syndicate supporting OMass as the Company advances its breakthrough programs into the clinic," says Max Klement, Partner, Venture Investments at Novo Holdings. "Each of these candidates has the potential to address substantial unmet patient needs in their respective areas of endocrinology and immunology, and we look forward to the Company's continuing progress." ### What's Next for OMass Proceeds from the financing will support the advancement of the Company's lead programme, OMS1620, a potential best-in-class MC2 (melanocortin-2) receptor antagonist, through Phase 2 clinical development in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), as well as ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome. OMS1620 has been designed to increase receptor residency time and maintain a. > "We have demonstrated the ability of our team and approach to discover and deliver a pipeline of first- and best-in-class programmes." – Ros Deegan, CEO of OMass Therapeutics With this significant funding, OMass Therapeutics is well-positioned to bring novel small-molecule therapies closer to patients in need.