Integra Therapeutics Secures €10.5 Million from European Commission for FiCAT Advanced Therapies Platform
Integra Therapeutics, a biotech company specializing in gene writing tools, has been awarded a grant and equity investment totaling €10.5 million from the European Commission through the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program.
This funding, comprising a €2.5 million grant and up to €8 million in equity investment, will support the development and launch of advanced therapies.
Dr. Marc Güell and Dr. Avencia Sánchez-Mejías, co-founders of Integra Therapeutics
Selected from a pool of 969 deeptech companies, Integra Therapeutics is one of the 68 companies chosen for the EIC Accelerator program, the sole initiative combining grants and equity investments for emerging European deeptech enterprises. The funds will be directed towards several key initiatives, including the pre-marketing of the FiCAT platform for T cell and hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) engineering. This platform aims to develop cell therapies targeting rare diseases, autoimmune disorders, and oncology.
Integra Therapeutics will also use part of the funding to generate proof-of-concept data for its first gene therapy. This therapy employs systemic administration with non-viral vectors using lipid nanoparticles (LNP) to address a severe pediatric hepatic disease. The European Commission is expected to join Integra Therapeutics' capital in 2025 during its anticipated Series A funding round, which may include up to €8 million to advance the clinical development of this gene therapy.
Dr. Avencia Sánchez-Mejías, CEO and co-founder of Integra Therapeutics, highlighted the significance of this funding, stating:
"The support from the EIC Accelerator is a significant boost for our FiCAT gene writing platform. It will facilitate the development of the first therapeutic product for a pediatric disease with an urgent medical need."
She also noted the positive trend in female-led companies receiving EIC funding, though she emphasized the need for further improvements in gender representation in leadership roles.
In addition to these developments, Integra Therapeutics plans to expand the FiCAT platform's applications to extra-hepatic indications. The company aims to license and co-develop new therapies to maximize the number of patients benefiting from this innovative technology.
Integra Therapeutics, founded in 2020 by Dr. Marc Güell and Dr. Avencia Sánchez-Mejías as a spin-off from Pompeu Fabra University, has received backing from prominent international investors and organizations in the health and biomedical sector. The company is headquartered in Barcelona and earned the My Green Lab sustainability certification in 2023.
Topics: Biotech
