At a Glance
- Company: Cytospire Therapeutics
- Location: London, UK
- Funding: £61 million ($83 million) Series A
- Focus area: Pan-gamma delta T-cell engagers
- Lead programme: CYT X300 for EGFR-positive cancers
What happened?
Cytospire Therapeutics closed an oversubscribed £61 million ($83 million) Series A financing to advance its pipeline of pan-gamma delta T-cell engagers for cancer. The round will fund IND-enabling work, GMP manufacturing and preparation for a first-in-human study of its lead programme, CYT X300.
Why does it matter?
Cytospire is trying to improve on conventional T-cell engagers, which usually recruit CD3 on all T cells and can run into efficacy and safety limits. By selectively engaging gamma delta T cells, the company hopes to better exploit a T-cell subset that is already present in the tumour microenvironment and may be better at distinguishing tumour from healthy cells.
Who’s behind it?
The company is led by CEO Natalie Mount and is backed by 4BIO Capital, Servier Ventures, British Business Bank, Sound Bioventures, Criteria Bio Ventures, Abingworth and LifeArc Ventures. Cytospire says its approach is designed to address patient heterogeneity by activating both tissue-resident and blood-resident effector cells.
How was it achieved?
Cytospire’s engagers are multispecific antibodies engineered to target all gamma delta T cells rather than a single subtype. Its lead asset, CYT X300, is being developed against EGFR-positive tumours, including colorectal, head and neck and non-small cell lung cancers, with IND-enabling studies and GMP manufacturing now underway.
What’s next?
The next milestone is a first-in-human study of CYT X300, which Cytospire plans to advance into the clinic after completing preclinical and manufacturing work. If the platform performs as hoped, the company could extend the same gamma delta approach into additional solid and liquid tumour settings.
What are people saying?
Natalie Mount said the financing validates the team and the science behind the platform. Cytospire also said its pan-gamma delta approach could create broader and more effective anti-tumour responses than current T-cell engager strategies.