Skopos Bio, a Melbourne-based biotechnology startup developing targeted radiopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment, has raised A$12 million in seed funding. The round was co-led by Tenmile, Tin Alley Ventures and Yosemite.
The company is a spinout of Australia’s Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, founded by three researchers: Professor Michael Hofman, Associate Professor Luc Furic and Associate Professor Mohammad Haskali.
Skopos Bio is developing radioactive molecules designed to identify and bind to cancer cells, delivering targeted radiation to tumours while limiting exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Its initial research focuses on difficult-to-treat prostate cancer, with plans to explore additional cancer indications.
The company’s development strategy builds on theranostics, an approach that combines molecular imaging and targeted treatment. Its research pipeline focuses on cancer-associated targets that may offer opportunities for new radiopharmaceutical therapies.
The seed funding will support research and development of its therapeutic pipeline and help advance its initial candidates towards first-in-human clinical trials.
Skopos Bio has also appointed Jeevan Virk as board chair as it prepares to move its research programmes towards clinical development.
