An Australian oncology startup spun out of one of the country's leading cancer research centers has raised A$12 million in Seed funding to advance a targeted radiotherapy platform toward human trials. Skopos Bio, founded by three scientists from Melbourne's Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, formally announced its launch with backing from three venture capital firms. The syndicate brings together capital and networks linked to some of Australia's most prominent business figures and the son of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
Founding Team and Leadership
Skopos Bio was founded by Professor Michael Hofman, Associate Professor Mohammad Haskali, and Associate Professor Luc Furic, all based at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne. The company has also appointed Jeevan Virk as Chair, bringing additional commercial and strategic leadership to the scientific team. The founding group combines expertise in nuclear medicine, radiochemistry, and cancer biology to develop precision oncology treatments.
Funding Syndicate and Investor Support
The Seed round was assembled by Tenmile, Tin Alley Ventures, and Yosemite, three venture capital firms with distinct international networks. Tenmile is associated with Australian business figure Andrew Forrest, while Tin Alley Ventures is linked to investor and adviser John Wylie. Yosemite was founded by Reed Jobs, the son of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, and its participation strengthens the company's global reach.
Targeted Radiopharmaceutical Approach
Skopos Bio is developing radioactive molecules that seek out and bind to cancer cells, delivering radiation directly to tumors while largely sparing healthy tissue. The company is initially focusing on hard-to-treat prostate cancer, a disease area with significant unmet clinical need. This approach draws on nuclear science advances to create therapies that are more precise than many conventional cancer treatments.
Market Context and Ambition
Australia has emerged as a growing source of radiopharmaceutical and oncology innovation, attracting attention from domestic and international investors. Skopos Bio's launch reflects this trend and highlights the role of venture capital in translating academic research into commercially viable therapies. The company's focus on prostate cancer gives it a defined initial market with the potential to broaden into other oncology indications.
Origins and Strategic Significance
The company's name is taken from the Greek word skopos, meaning target or mark, which reflects its core focus on precision targeting. Skopos Bio emerged from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, one of Australia's leading oncology research institutions. The venture is intended to take world-class Australian science into international markets and clinical application.
Investor Commentary
Tenmile Managing Director Dr Steve Burnell said the formation of Skopos Bio and the investor syndicate demonstrates a commitment to building Australia's health science commercialization ecosystem. He said the collaboration is designed to connect the best Australian science with international markets and capital. Tenmile described the investment as a way to help bring world-class science developed in Australia to people who need it most.
Clinical Development Outlook
With the new Seed funding, Skopos Bio plans to progress its radiopharmaceutical research toward human clinical trials. The capital will support further development of its radioactive molecule candidates and the preclinical evidence needed for regulatory engagement. The company's initial prostate cancer focus may later expand to other difficult cancers, reflecting its broader oncology ambitions.
Skopos Bio's launch highlights the growing investor appetite for Australian deep science and precision oncology innovation. By pairing a research-driven founding team with an international funding syndicate, the company is positioned to translate academic discoveries into potentially transformative cancer therapies. Its progress toward human trials will be closely watched by both the biotech sector and investors seeking new approaches for hard-to-treat cancers.
Source: Financial Review