TECregen raises €11m seed round to advance thymus regeneration

The financing round was led by the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, with participation from LifeSpan Vision Ventures, Carma Fund, EOS BioInnovation, High-Tech Gründerfonds, the JFG Life Sciences Foundation of the University of Basel, and Zurich Cantonal Bank.

TECregen plans to use the proceeds to accelerate development of what it calls “thymopoietic biologics,” engineered molecules designed to rejuvenate thymic epithelial cells, or TECs. These cells form the structural and functional backbone of the thymus, creating the microenvironment in which immature immune cells mature into functional T cells.

Why does the thymus matter?

The thymus plays a critical role early in life by educating T cells to recognize foreign threats while avoiding the body’s own tissues, a process essential for both cancer surveillance and the prevention of autoimmune disease. However, it is also one of the most age-sensitive organs in the body. From adolescence onward, functional thymic tissue gradually shrinks and is replaced by fat, a process known as thymic involution, leading to a steady decline in the production of new, naïve T cells.

Thymic decline is not limited to aging. Chemotherapy, radiation, stem cell transplantation, severe infections, and certain genetic disorders can damage the thymus and cause profound immune depletion. In these settings, patients may remain vulnerable to infections even when routine blood tests suggest immune recovery.

A small but emerging competitive landscape

Although thymus regeneration remains a niche area within immunology, several companies are exploring adjacent strategies. U.S.-based Thymmune Therapeutics and Tolerance Bio are developing cell-based approaches using induced pluripotent stem cells to recreate or replace thymic function, while others like Zag Bio are investigating thymus-targeted tolerance mechanisms for autoimmune disease. In parallel, tissue-based solutions such as allogeneic thymus implants have reached the clinic for rare congenital immunodeficiencies.

TECregen’s approach differs from these strategies by aiming to pharmacologically rejuvenate thymic epithelial cells in situ, rather than supplying thymic tissue or cells, a distinction that could offer advantages in scalability if translated successfully into the clinic.

To do so, TECregen’s approach centers on engineered thymopoietic ligands, a new class of growth-factor-based biologics designed to selectively regenerate thymic tissue. Growth factors have long been recognized for their regenerative potential, but their clinical use has often been limited by systemic toxicity and poor tissue specificity. According to the company, its thymopoietics are engineered to restore thymic structure and function while minimizing off-target effects. TECregen has not publicly disclosed details of its lead candidates or timelines toward clinical testing.

New chairman joins the board

Alongside the financing, TECregen announced the appointment of Bo Rode Hansen as chairman of the board. He brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

Hansen previously served as chief executive officer of Scandion Oncology and was the founding president of Genevant Sciences. He has also held senior roles at Roche and Santaris Pharma.

“The team’s pioneering work in thymus regeneration has the potential to redefine treatment approaches for immune ageing and related disease,” Hansen said in a statement.

Investor confidence in a niche field

Targeting the thymus remains technically challenging, but investors backing TECregen see potential in restoring immune capacity at its source.

“TECregen’s innovative approach to thymus regeneration firmly positions the company at the forefront of targeted biologics designed to restore immune function,” said Philipp Müller, investment manager at the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund.

With fresh capital and an expanded board, TECregen now faces the challenge of translating thymus biology into drug candidates that can demonstrate safety, durability, and clinical relevance. For a field long considered difficult to drug, the company’s progress will be closely watched.