Artios Pharma has secured an oversubscribed $115 million Series D round to accelerate the development of its DNA damage response pipeline in oncology. The Cambridge and New York based company is focusing the fresh capital on advancing two potential first-in-class candidates and a differentiated preclinical program. The financing comes at a moment when early clinical data in hard-to-treat cancers are beginning to validate Artios’ strategy of exploiting vulnerabilities in tumor DNA repair mechanisms.
Series D financing overview
The Series D round totals $115 million and was oversubscribed, underscoring strong investor conviction in the company’s approach. It was co-led by founding backer SV Health Investors and new investor RA Capital Management, with Janus Henderson Investors also joining the syndicate alongside a broad group of existing shareholders. Proceeds will primarily support expansion of Artios’ lead ATR inhibitor alnodesertib into additional Phase 2 cohorts and the progression of other pipeline assets.
Clinical progress of alnodesertib
Alnodesertib is being evaluated in ATM-negative patients with second-line pancreatic cancer and third-line colorectal cancer, two settings where prognosis remains poor and treatment options are limited. The candidate recently received U.S. FDA Fast Track Designation, reflecting its potential to address a significant unmet need in tumors with ATM deficiency. In the STELLA Phase 1/2a trial presented at AACR 2025, alnodesertib combined with low-dose irinotecan achieved a 50 percent confirmed overall response rate in ATM-negative solid tumors at the recommended Phase 2 dose.
Addressing unmet need in ATM-deficient cancers
Patients whose tumors harbor ATM loss currently have no therapies specifically approved for their molecular profile. Artios has reported durable responses to alnodesertib across eight different solid tumor types, highlighting the breadth of opportunity for this targeted approach. The new funding will allow the company to broaden enrollment of ATM-negative patients and generate the robust data package required for potential registration paths.
Development plans for ART6043 and DDRi-ADC programs
Artios’ second clinical-stage asset, ART6043, is a DNA polymerase Theta (Polθ) inhibitor positioned for patients with BRCA-mutant, HER2-negative breast cancer who are eligible for PARP inhibitor therapy. Data presented at the ESMO Congress in September 2025 from a Phase 1/2a study showed ART6043 to have a favorable tolerability profile, expected pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics, and encouraging early clinical signals. The company plans to use part of the Series D proceeds to launch a randomized Phase 2 trial of ART6043 and to select a lead candidate from its differentiated DDR inhibitor–antibody drug conjugate program by the first quarter of 2026.
Strategic and investor perspectives
Chief Executive Officer Mike Andriole described the financing as a catalyst for moving both alnodesertib and ART6043 toward potential registration in indications where median survival is often measured in months. He emphasized that the capital will support not only late-stage clinical development, but also preparations for future commercial activities as the company evolves. Andriole thanked long-standing investor SV Health Investors for its continued leadership and welcomed RA Capital Management and Janus Henderson Investors as strategic new partners.
Support for next-generation DDR therapeutics
SV Health Investors Managing Partner Nikola Trbovic highlighted Artios’ progression from an early DDR pioneer into a more mature company with a differentiated pipeline and late-stage ambitions. He pointed to the Series D financing and the recent appointment of Andriole as CEO as key milestones in the company’s transition toward a commercially focused organization. RA Capital partner Jake Simson noted that the response rates and durability seen with alnodesertib, together with the early data for ART6043, demonstrate the potential for Artios’ programs to broaden the impact of DDR-targeted therapies while building long-term value.
Company and investor background
Artios is developing next-generation DDR-targeted drugs designed to exploit cancer cells’ remaining survival pathways while sparing healthy tissue. Its portfolio spans the ATR inhibitor alnodesertib, the Polθ inhibitor ART6043, and preclinical DDRi-ADC candidates, all engineered with distinct pharmacologic and biological properties. The Series D investor syndicate includes Andera Partners, Avidity Partners, EQT Life Sciences, Invus, IP Group, M Ventures, Novartis Venture Fund, Omega Funds, Pfizer Ventures, Piper Heartland, Sofinnova Partners, Schroders Capital, RA Capital Management, Janus Henderson Investors, and SV Health Investors.
With an oversubscribed $115 million Series D behind it, Artios is positioned to push two potential first-in-class DDR agents deeper into the clinic and to advance its ADC platform toward candidate selection. The next phase of development will test whether the promising signals seen in early trials of alnodesertib and ART6043 translate into clinically meaningful benefits in larger, randomized studies. If successful, the company’s strategy could reshape treatment options for patients with ATM-deficient and BRCA-mutant cancers who currently face limited and often short-lived therapy choices.