Apmonia Therapeutics, a Reims-based biotech and spin-off of the CNRS and the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, announced on 5 February 2026 a €10 million funding round. The funding will enable the launch of the first clinical study of TAX2, a first-in-class peptide that selectively targets the TSP-1/CD47 interaction in advanced solid tumours. The phase 1/2a trial will be conducted at four reference centres in France and Belgium.
A funding round backed mainly by Grand Est investors and health foundations
According to Fusacq, the round brings together Capital Grand-Est, FINOVAM Gestion, the Fondation Fournier-Majoie, Angels Santé, Capital Cell and private investors. The company had previously raised €4 million in 2024 (as reported by Capital Grand-Est) to complete the regulatory preclinical studies.
Apmonia Therapeutics is led by Albin Jeanne, its CEO, and was founded in 2019 in Reims. The company emerged from a collaboration between the CNRS, the University of Reims and SATT Nord, and runs its preclinical activities through an R&D subsidiary in Liège, Belgium.
TAX2: targeting TSP-1/CD47 without affecting the CD47-SIRPα axis
TAX2's therapeutic mechanism is its key differentiator. CD47 became a flagship oncology target during the 2010-2020 decade: the anti-CD47 agents developed by Forty Seven (acquired by Gilead for $4.9 billion in 2020), Pfizer (Trillium Therapeutics), and ALX Oncology block the CD47-SIRPα interaction to reactivate tumor phagocytosis.
The flip side of this approach is its hematological toxicity. CD47 is also expressed on red blood cells. Systemic anti-CD47 agents frequently cause severe anemia, which has held back several advanced trials. A number of development programs have been discontinued or slowed down since 2023.
TAX2 takes a different angle: it selectively blocks the TSP-1/CD47 interaction (thrombospondin-1) without interfering with the CD47-SIRPα axis. According to Apmonia's preclinical data, this targeting restores antitumor immunity and inhibits angiogenesis, while avoiding the hematological toxicity of conventional anti-CD47 agents. This is precisely the clinical argument that the phase 1/2a trial must validate.
The clinical trial design
The phase 1/2a, first-in-human trial will recruit patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors that are relapsed or refractory. The investigator sites are Gustave Roussy (Villejuif), Centre Léon Bérard (Lyon), Institut Jules Bordet (Brussels) and UZ Gent (Ghent). This Franco-Belgian split helps accelerate patient enrollment and provides access to ethics committees in both countries.
The immuno-oncology market context
The immuno-oncology market is worth more than $75 billion in 2025 according to industry analyses, dominated by checkpoint inhibitors (MSD's Keytruda, BMS's Opdivo). Bispecific antibodies and approaches targeting the tumor microenvironment represent the next waves of innovation. The extracellular matrix and the tumor vascular network, Apmonia's research focus, are considered promising targets for overcoming resistance to current therapies.
In France, the biotech ecosystem is concentrated around Paris-Saclay, Lyon and Strasbourg, as l'Usine Digitale regularly points out in its sector overviews. The Grand Est region, where Apmonia is based, is gradually building a biotech cluster in Reims and Nancy with support from the SATTs. For biotechs with fewer than 20 employees, raising €10M in a single financing round with a clinical program about to begin remains a key milestone: it validates the maturity of the regulatory dossier and unlocks attention from specialist healthcare investors for subsequent rounds.
Key milestones to watch
- First patient enrolled: typically 6 to 9 months after the round closes, subject to authorization from ethics committees and health agencies (ANSM in France, AFMPS in Belgium).
- Preliminary tolerability data: phase 1 first aims to establish the maximum tolerated dose. The first signals typically emerge 12 to 18 months after the start.
- Efficacy signals: part 2a assesses the first signs of antitumor activity and guides the selection of indications for the dedicated phase 2.
What this signals for French health deeptech
The Apmonia funding round illustrates a trend: regional academic spin-offs secure significant funding when their preclinical package is solid and their target is clinically differentiated. SATTs (Technology Transfer Acceleration Companies), specialized health foundations (Fournier-Majoie for oncology) and regional funds such as Capital Grand-Est or FINOVAM play a central role in getting these companies off the ground before more generalist European VC funds come in.
For marketing and operations leaders at biotechs in the structuring phase, recurring workstreams emerge: scientific positioning, investor communications, academic partnerships. Growth marketing agencies and applied AI teams can help structure patient data, investor relations CRM tools and scientific communications.
FAQ
How much did Apmonia Therapeutics raise in 2026?
On 5 February 2026, Apmonia Therapeutics announced a €10 million raise, which will fund the start of the phase 1/2a trial of TAX2 in patients with advanced solid tumors.
Who are the investors in the Apmonia round?
The round brings together Capital Grand-Est, FINOVAM Gestion, the Fondation Fournier-Majoie, Angels Santé, Capital Cell and private investors.
What is TAX2 and how does it differ from anti-CD47 agents?
TAX2 is a first-in-class peptide that selectively blocks the TSP-1/CD47 interaction without interfering with the CD47-SIRPα axis. This selectivity is expected to avoid the hematological toxicity seen with classic systemic anti-CD47 agents, which target both interactions at once.
Where will the TAX2 clinical trial be conducted?
The phase 1/2a trial will be run at four reference centers: Gustave Roussy (Villejuif), Centre Léon Bérard (Lyon), Institut Jules Bordet (Brussels) and UZ Gent (Ghent), with the support of a Belgian R&D subsidiary in Liège.
Is Apmonia Therapeutics an academic spin-off?
Yes. Apmonia Therapeutics, founded in 2019 in Reims, is a spin-off born from a partnership between CNRS, the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne and SATT Nord, which supported the first stages of technology transfer. The company maintains close ties with French academic research.
What is the next key milestone for Apmonia after this raise?
The company must obtain regulatory approvals from the ANSM in France and the AFMPS in Belgium to start the clinical trial, then recruit the first patients across the four investigator sites. The interim milestone is the publication of preliminary tolerability data on the first cohorts, expected 12 to 18 months after recruitment begins — a pivotal step to steer the clinical program toward the most promising indications and prepare a larger funding round.
What is the potential market addressed by TAX2?
Advanced solid tumors that have relapsed or become refractory to current therapies represent a major unmet medical need. Checkpoint inhibitors such as Keytruda or Opdivo benefit roughly 20 to 30% of patients depending on the indication. Approaches targeting the tumor microenvironment, including TAX2, aim to broaden the responder population by bypassing resistance mechanisms.