Weekly roundup: Funding, leadership, and the outlook for 2026
Xeltis secures nearly €50m from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and existing shareholders to advance aXess, its vascular access conduit to the market
Xeltis, a leading developer of transformative implants that enable the natural creation of living and long-lasting vessels, announces that it has secured nearly €50m of new financing, consisting of up to €37.5m from the EIB, supported under the European Commission’s Invest EU programme, and €10m from existing investors, including EQT, investing from its LSP Health Economics Fund 2, and Invest-NL. The proceeds raised will be used to advance aXess into commercialisation, including upscaling production and hiring, and supporting the continued development of its broader pipeline.
Actithera appoints radiopharmaceutical pioneer Dr. Darshan Dalal as Chief Medical Officer
Actithera, a radiopharmaceutical biotech company translating medicinal chemistry insights into next-generation radioligand therapies (RLTs), announced the appointment of Darshan Dalal, M.D., PhD, MPH as Chief Medical Officer (CMO). In this role, Dr. Dalal will lead the clinical strategy and build the clinical development organisation as Actithera advances its lead fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-targeting RLT into the clinic and builds its pipeline of differentiated precision-engineered radiopharmaceuticals.
Cycuria’s approach to AML published in Science Translational Medicine – and will present at ASH
Cycuria Therapeutics, a preclinical biotech company developing first-in-class protein-based therapies with a differentiated dual-mechanism for hard-to-treat blood cancers, has had a significant academic paper on its approach to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) published in the leading journal Science Translational Medicine. The findings are pivotal as Cycuria advances its lead asset, CUR-101, for AML. Cycuria will also present at the ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition on 7th December.
📺Optimum TV
This week not only marked the beginning of December, but also the first episode of our new ‘Dealmakers 2026’ series where our guests look ahead to examine what’s in store for the life science investment world in 2026.
It kicked off with our very own Mary Clark, discussing how the investment climate is changing – for the better – and why it is imperative that firms hone their story if they want to bag a deal.
Watch the full episode below.
🔥Hot topic
The US and UK have just struck a pharmaceuticals trade deal in which UK pharma firms will maintain unrestricted, zero tariff access to the US. But unfettered access comes with a price – namely that the NHS will have to pay more for branded drugs. Yet could that actually be a good thing? Find out more in this week’s hot topic ⬇️
👥 Genesis 2025
The Optimum Team had a fantastic day on Wednesday at One Nucleus’ Genesis 2025, filled with fantastic panels and networking!
A special shout out to Nick Bastin, MD of Optimum, who chaired a fireside chat with the brilliant Olivia Cavlan of LifeArc Ventures, covering: What Has Surprised Us Most in the Past 25 Years?
And Eva Haas , MD of Optimum, who moderated the keynote panel – The Changing Life Science Investment Landscape, prompting a lively discussion.
That’s all folks! To stay in the know – subscribe to Optimum’s weekly wrap-up today!
