Artios lands ÂŁ87.4m to advance new targeted treatments for hard-to-treat cancers
This article covers Artios, a clinical-stage biotech company, which has raised an oversubscribed $115m (ÂŁ87.4m) Series D to expand clinical trials of two DNA damage response programmes. The financing will support larger Phase 2 cohorts of alnodesertib in ATM-negative pancreatic and colorectal cancers and a randomised Phase 2 of ART6043 in BRCA-mutant breast cancer, advancing DDR-targeted development for oncology drugmakers, investors and patient groups with limited treatment options.
Artios has raised an oversubscribed £87.4m ($115m) Series D to expand clinical trials of two DNA damage response programmes, aiming at patient groups with few treatment options. The cash will push alnodesertib into larger Phase 2 cohorts in ATM-negative pancreatic and colorectal cancer and fund a randomized Phase 2 for ART6043 in BRCA‑mutant breast cancer — moves that matter for oncology drugmakers and investors tracking first‑in‑class DDR approaches.
Why it matters
Artios is targeting clinically underserved subgroups defined by DNA repair defects. There are currently no approved therapies tailored to ATM‑deficient tumours, and median survival in advanced pancreatic and some colorectal cancers remains measured in months. The company’s announcement follows clinical data showing notable responses in these biomarker‑defined populations, which could reshape how certain hard‑to‑treat tumours are managed if later‑stage trials confirm benefit.
Inside the product
Alnodesertib is an ATR inhibitor being evaluated in the STELLA Phase 1/2a trial. In data presented at AACR in April 2025, alnodesertib plus low‑dose irinotecan produced a 50% confirmed overall response rate at the recommended Phase 2 dose in ATM‑negative solid tumours, with durable responses reported across eight different tumour types. The programme has received U.S. FDA Fast Track Designation and will expand enrolment to additional ATM‑negative patients in second‑line pancreatic cancer and third‑line colorectal cancer.
ART6043 is a DNA polymerase theta (Polθ) inhibitor described as potentially first‑in‑class. Artios presented tolerability, expected pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic activity, and promising signals from a Phase 1/2a dataset at the ESMO Congress in September 2025. The company plans a randomized Phase 2 in BRCA‑mutant HER2‑negative breast cancer patients who are eligible for a PARP inhibitor, a population where Polθ inhibition may provide an alternative or complement to existing therapies.
Artios is also advancing a DDR inhibitor–antibody drug conjugate programme and expects to nominate a lead candidate in Q1 2026.
Founder perspective
In the announcement, Mike Andriole, Chief Executive Officer of Artios, said:
This Series D accelerates our potential path to registration for both alnodesertib and ART6043, broadening development for the next generation of DNA damage response (DDR) therapeutics to indications among the highest of unmet need across pancreatic, colorectal, and breast cancers, where median survival is often measured in months.
Mike Andriole is the company’s chief executive and will oversee the transition toward later‑stage development for the two lead programmes.
Who’s backing the round
The Series D was oversubscribed and includes a mix of new and existing life sciences investors. The financing was co‑led by founding backer SV Health Investors and new investor RA Capital Management, with participation from new investor Janus Henderson Investors alongside broad support from Artios’ existing shareholder base. Other named participants include Andera Partners, Avidity Partners, EQT Life Sciences, Invus, IP Group plc, M Ventures, Novartis Venture Fund, Omega Funds, Pfizer Ventures, Piper Heartland, Sofinnova Partners, Schroders Capital and others.
SV Health Investors describes itself as a transatlantic healthcare fund manager with approximately £1.5bn in assets under management and offices in London and Boston. RA Capital Management is a multi‑stage healthcare investor with a research‑driven approach and more than £7.6bn in assets under management.
In the announcement, Nikola Trbovic, Managing Partner, SV Health Investors, added:
We are thrilled to have supported Artios’ evolution, from an early-stage DDR pioneer when we founded the company to the established company it has become, distinguished by a promising and differentiated pipeline. We look forward to continuing to do so as it deploys the Series D proceeds to drive late-stage development of alnodesertib as well as its pipeline. This financing, and the recent appointment of Mike Andriole as CEO, are exciting steps in Artios’ continued growth and its transition toward becoming a commercially oriented organization.
In the announcement, Jake Simson, Partner, RA Capital Management, commented:
We are excited to co-lead this financing round to advance the next generation of DNA damage response therapeutics. Artios’ differentiated clinical programs, alnodesertib and ART6043, together have the potential to meaningfully expand the impact of DDR-targeted therapies. The rate and durability of responses observed to date for alnodesertib across a range of solid tumors and the early clinical results with ART6043 underscore the strength of Artios’ approach and ability to deliver novel, potentially first-in-class treatments for patients while building significant long-term value.
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The bigger picture
The round highlights continued investor appetite for targeted oncology approaches that exploit DNA repair vulnerabilities. Artios sits in the Cambridge‑UK biotech cluster and is deploying clinical readouts from high‑visibility conferences such as AACR and ESMO to de‑risk near‑term development milestones. Its focus on biomarker‑defined patient groups reflects a broader trend in oncology: smaller, more precise trials that aim to deliver meaningful benefit in tightly defined populations.
For the UK and European biotech ecosystem, the financing is another example of domestic R&D teams accessing substantial private capital to move candidates from early‑stage studies toward registration‑enabling trials. Success or setbacks from these programmes will be watched closely by pharma partners and investors assessing the commercial and clinical viability of next‑generation DDR therapies.
They've invested in Artios
Get to know these biotech investors
| Investor | Sector | Stage | Activity | Team | Connect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 SV Health Investors | 5 investments investments | 6 contacts contacts | |||
 RA Capital Management | 4 investments investments | 7 contacts contacts | |||
 Andera Partners | 2 investments investments | more info | |||
 Avidity Partners | 1 investment investment | more info | |||
 EQT Life Sciences | 4 investments investments | more info | |||
 M Ventures | 9 investments investments | 16 contacts contacts | |||
 Novartis Venture Fund | 6 investments investments | more info |
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