Munich-based Tubulis has raised €308 million in a Series C financing round, marking the largest ever for a European biotech at this stage and the biggest globally for a private company developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
The funding round was led by Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners, with participation from Wellington Management and HTGF, among other investors. The funds will be used primarily to advance clinical development of Tubulis’ lead candidate, TUB-040, which targets ovarian and lung cancers.
The therapy is currently in Phase I/IIa trials and has earned Fast Track designation from the FDA. Beyond TUB-040, Tubulis intends to expand its pipeline and continue innovating its ADC technology platform.
Tackling solid tumours with uniquely matched ADCs
Founded by Dr Dominik Schumacher, whose scientific expertise and entrepreneurial drive have been key to the company’s progress, Tubulis is on a mission to create highly specialised ADCs tailored to the biology of solid tumours.
At the heart of Tubulis’ technology is the proprietary P5 conjugation platform and Tubutecan payload, which enable the creation of ultra-stable, homogeneous ADCs. This precision enhances on-tumour targeting while minimising off-target effects, offering a therapeutic profile that sets Tubulis apart in the competitive ADC landscape.
The ADC sector is populated by well-known players such as AbbVie (which acquired ImmunoGen), BioNTech/Duality Biologics, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), and Adcendo. Bristol Myers Squibb, in particular, collaborates with Tubulis on several programs, leveraging Tubulis’ platform expertise. Other competitors include Dermavant Sciences, Metrum Research Group, and Clovis Oncology, each advancing varied ADC approaches.
Tubulis distinguishes itself through a robust technological foundation and a pipeline targeting tumour antigens like NaPi2b and 5T4, with therapies designed for greater efficacy and safety.
What’s next?
Looking ahead, Tubulis plans to accelerate development of TUB-040, move into earlier treatment lines, and advance additional candidates such as TUB-030.
The company also plans to enhance its platform with new payload and linker technologies, aiming to establish ADCs as a standard treatment in oncology and to address resistance mechanisms effectively.
