Artios pulls in $115m to push DDR portfolio toward late-stage trials

Artios has closed an oversubscribed $115 million series D to accelerate development of its DNA damage response pipeline, widening studies for lead candidate alnodesertib and advancing a second potential first-in-class program. The UK-USA biotech plans to expand enrollment in pancreatic and colorectal cancer cohorts recently granted Fast Track status by the US regulator.

Alnodesertib has shown durable responses across eight tumor types with ATM deficiency, a population lacking approved targeted options. Earlier data from the STELLA Phase I/II study found a 50% confirmed overall response rate when paired with low-dose irinotecan. Artios says the new round will underpin broader evaluation as it steers the drug toward late-stage testing.

A second candidate, ART6043, is set to enter a Phase II randomized trial in BRCA-mutant HER2-negative breast cancer after promising safety, PK/PD and early efficacy signals at this year’s ESMO meeting. The company is also pushing ahead with a differentiated DDR inhibitor–antibody drug conjugate program, aiming to select a lead in early 2026. Chief executive Mike Andriole said the round accelerates registration paths for both clinical assets, pointing to high-need tumor settings where survival is “often measured in months.”