Artios Pharma Secures $115M Series D to Advance Oncology Pipeline

Artios Pharma, a biotechnology company focused on developing novel cancer treatments, has successfully raised $115 million in a Series D financing round. The funding will primarily support the advancement of the company's oncology pipeline, with a particular emphasis on its lead program, alnodesertib.

Alnodesertib Shows Promise in Advanced Cancers

Alnodesertib, Artios Pharma's flagship asset, is currently undergoing clinical trials for second-line pancreatic cancer and third-line colorectal cancer. Recent data presented in April demonstrated encouraging results when alnodesertib was combined with low-dose irinotecan:

• A 50% confirmed overall response rate was observed in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors who were negative for the ATM protein.
• In the subgroup of patients with low ATM expression, the response rate was 22%.

The newly secured funds will enable Artios to expand enrollment of ATM-negative patients in both cancer cohorts, potentially accelerating the development of this promising therapeutic approach.

Expanding the Oncology Portfolio

Beyond alnodesertib, Artios plans to allocate resources to other pipeline candidates:

1. ART6043: A DNA polymerase theta inhibitor targeting BRCA-mutant HER2-negative breast cancer. The Series D proceeds will support the initiation of a Phase II trial for this compound.

2. Recent data presented at the 2025 Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) indicated that ART6043:

   • Supports a once-daily dosing profile
   • Shows potential for combination with AstraZeneca and Merck's Lynparza
   • Demonstrates a "benign" tolerability profile

Investor Support and Industry Trends

The $115 million Series D round was led by founding investor SV Health Investors, with significant participation from new backer RA Capital Management. Janus Henderson Investors also joined the roster of supporters.

This funding event aligns with a broader trend of substantial fundraising in the biopharmaceutical sector throughout 2025. Notable examples include:

• Isomorphic Labs: $600 million (March)
• Odyssey Therapeutics: $213 million Series D (September)
• Kriya Therapeutics: $313.3 million (August)
• Verdiva Bio: $410 million Series A (January)
• Pelage Pharmaceuticals: $120 million Series B (October)
• Veradermics: $150 million Series C (October)

As the pharmaceutical industry continues to attract significant investment, companies like Artios Pharma are well-positioned to drive innovation in critical areas such as oncology, potentially leading to breakthrough treatments for patients with limited therapeutic options.