Funding · Healthcare & Life Sciences
Zumutor Biologics raises $7.3 million in Pre-Series B funding
By Startup Enthusiast ·
- Date
- Company
- Zumutor Biologics
- What it does
- Develops immunotherapy drugs for cancer
- Kind
- Funding
- Amount
- $7.3 Mn (₹70 Cr)
- Stage
- Series B
- Based in
- Bengaluru
- Founded
- 2013
What they do
Zumutor develops immunotherapy drugs that activate natural killer cells to attack tumours
What happened
The company raised $7.3 million in Pre-Series B funding from Premji Invest, Accel, Bharat Innovation Fund, and angels Ashish Kacholia and Raj Dandu
Why it matters
Funds will support global Phase 2 studies of its lead drug ZM008 starting in India
The details
- Zumutor Biologics has raised $7.3 million in a new funding round.
- The investment was led by Premji Invest, a new participant in the deal.
- Existing investors Accel and Bharat Innovation Fund also participated in this round.
- Angel investors Ashish Kacholia and Raj Dandu joined the funding as well.
- The company plans to complete US FDA Phase 1 clinical studies of its drug ZM008.
- Funds will initiate Phase 1B expansion cohorts and global Phase 2 studies including in India.
- This follows an earlier Series A4 round of $6.2 million in 2021.
- Human trials for ZM008 began in 2024 showing early signals in difficult-to-treat tumour types.
The bigger picture
- The funding supports the company's push into global Phase 2 clinical studies.
- It aligns with the government's biopharma SHAKTI scheme worth ₹10,000 crore.
- India's bioeconomy is projected to reach $300 billion by 2030.
About the business
- Zumutor develops immunotherapy drugs that activate natural killer cells to attack tumours.
- Its lead program is ZM008, described as a first-in-class NK cell checkpoint therapy.
- The company utilizes two proprietary Antibody Engineering Platforms targeting innate immunity.
- These platforms specifically target the tumor microenvironment to enhance drug efficacy.
- The company is headquartered in the US with an R&D laboratory in Bengaluru.
- Founding CEO Kavitha Iyer Rodrigues leads the company since its establishment in 2013.
- Chief Scientific Officer Maloy Ghosh oversees the scientific development of therapies.
- The company focuses on treating difficult-to-treat tumour types through innovative mechanisms.
What happens next
- Complete US FDA Phase 1 clinical study of ZM008 monotherapy and combination regimens.
- Initiate Phase 1B expansion cohorts for further clinical evaluation.
- Launch global Phase 2 studies including trials in India.
The deal
- Type
- Series B
Investors
- Premji Invest (lead) — New investor participating in the Series B round.
- Accel (existing) — Existing investor continuing support in the current round.
- Bharat Innovation Fund (existing) — Existing investor participating in the funding round.
Founders
- Kavitha Iyer Rodrigues, Founder and CEO
About Zumutor Biologics
- Product
- First-in-class NK cell checkpoint therapy
- Customers
- Cancer patients and pharma partners
- How it makes money
- Drug development and licensing