Dortmund-based iDEL Therapeutics has closed a €9 million Seed financing round to advance its pipeline of cancer therapeutics that are delivered directly into the cytosol of tumor cells.
The round was led by BiomedVC, with participation from NRW.Venture, Gründerfonds Ruhr, and KHAN Technology Transfer Fund II.
“iDEL Therapeutics’ approach to unlocking new cancer treatments represents an exciting opportunity with the potential to significantly impact oncology,” said Marcus Kostka, PhD, co-founder and CEO.
The company joins a wave of European biotech activity in oncology, including Germany-based T-CURX (€17.7M for non-viral CAR-T therapies) and Switzerland’s FoRx Therapeutics (€42M for DNA repair-targeted oncology treatments). Additional rounds include France-based ErVimmune (€17M for immunotherapies), the UK’s Umlaut.bio (~€3M pre-Seed for cancer and immunology programs), and Ternary Therapeutics (€4.1M for AI-designed molecular glues targeting undruggable proteins). Altogether, these rounds represent around €83.8 million in investment into diverse oncology approaches.
“iDEL’s technology has broad applicability across multiple drug classes and could improve outcomes for patients with high-need cancer indications. We look forward to expanding preclinical proof-of-concept data, advancing lead candidates toward the clinic, and exploring additional therapeutic opportunities,” added Marcus Kostka.
Founded in 2025, iDEL Therapeutics leverages a unique pan-cancer uptake mechanism that achieves high intracellular drug exposure and sustained tumor retention. Its synthetic shuttle technology evades endosomal trapping and is compatible with both large and small molecules, including nanobodies and tumor-targeted cytotoxic payloads.
The company’s approach aims to unlock historically undruggable intracellular targets, broaden therapeutic windows, and overcome limitations in on-target specificity and durable anti-tumor effects.
Aristotelis Nastos, PhD, Managing Partner and Investment Director at BiomedVC, said, “iDEL Therapeutics’ differentiated strategy improves intracellular delivery, increases target engagement, and prolongs tumor retention. With a strong leadership team and cutting-edge technology, the company is well-positioned to deliver meaningful clinical benefits for cancer patients, and we fully support them on this journey.”
Proceeds from the Seed round will advance iDEL Therapeutics’ two proprietary lead programs toward clinical evaluation, leveraging their shuttling technology to enhance drug delivery and efficacy across a range of solid tumors.
Concurrently, iDEL announced its leadership team, bringing together decades of expertise in biopharma, drug development, and company building.
