Neobe raises $6.8M to break tumor barriers with bacteria
British biotech Neobe Therapeutics has raised $6.8 million (€6.1 million) in seed funding to develop engineered bacteria that break down the physical barriers preventing cancer drugs and immune cells from reaching solid tumors. The financing will support the preclinical development of its lead program, NEO22, toward a planned regulatory filing in 2028.
Why it matters: Immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors have transformed cancer treatment, but many patients do not respond. One reason is the tumor microenvironment: a dense network of proteins and other molecules surrounding cancer cells that can prevent immune cells from reaching their targets.
Neobe is developing a way to remove these barriers, potentially making existing cancer therapies effective in patients who currently do not benefit from them.
How it works: Neobe engineers nonpathogenic bacterial strains that can colonize tumors and release enzymes designed to break down the surrounding extracellular matrix. The bacteria are programmed to activate enzyme production in response to conditions within the tumor, aiming to concentrate their activity in cancerous tissue while limiting effects on healthy cells.
Rather than directly killing cancer cells, the bacteria are designed to make tumors more accessible to other treatments, particularly immunotherapies.
Proof of concept: In a 2026 study published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, Neobe collaborated with researchers at the University of Cyprus and Barts Cancer Institute in London to investigate its bacterial platform in mouse models of cancer. The engineered bacteria produced an enzyme called hyaluronidase, which breaks down hyaluronan, a component of the extracellular matrix. The treatment reduced tumor stiffness, improved blood vessel function and increased immune cell infiltration.
In one model of triple-negative breast cancer resistant to checkpoint inhibitors, combining a single dose of engineered bacteria with immunotherapy resulted in complete tumor regression, according to Neobe. When the mice were subsequently exposed to the same cancer months later, they did not develop new tumors, suggesting lasting immune memory.
Yes, but: These findings remain preclinical. The researchers also found that treatment responses depended on tumor stiffness and extracellular matrix composition, suggesting that the approach may be more effective in some cancers than others.
By the numbers: The $6.8 million round was led by ARC Ventures, with participation from Faber, Macmillan Ventures, Proven Connect and Empirical Ventures, alongside returning investor 2048 Ventures.
The financing brings Neobe’s total funding to more than $10.5 million (€9.4 million). Founded in 2021, the company previously raised $2.34 million in 2024.
What’s next: Neobe plans to advance NEO22 through preclinical development and submit an investigational new drug application in 2028.
The company has also appointed immuno-oncology specialist Laura Chow as chief medical officer to oversee clinical development. A further tranche of the current seed round is expected to finance its first-in-human trial.
The next challenge will be demonstrating that its engineered bacteria can safely and reliably remodel tumors in patients, rather than just in animal models.
