Spica is pioneering Macrophage-Subset targeted therapies
Antwerp, Belgium – 4th June, 2025 – Spica Therapeutics (“Spica” or “the Company”), a pioneering biotech company transforming macrophage biology into breakthrough therapies, announced the successful closing of a €10 million Seed financing round. The round was co-led by Bioqube Ventures and Flanders Future Tech Fund (FFTF), with participation from Qbic, underscoring the strong belief in Spica’s innovative approach and therapeutic potential by leading European life science investors. The Seed round will enable Spica to accelerate the development of its lead anti-CD163 depleting monoclonal antibody assets into early Investigational New Drug (IND) enabling studies.
With headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium and a research site in Aarhus, Denmark, Spica is leveraging its proprietary functional macrophage fingerprinting technology to identify and selectively target disease-relevant macrophage subsets. The company’s platform is designed to address significant unmet medical needs in oncology, fibroinflammatory and autoimmune diseases by identifying and targeting disease-relevant macrophage subpopulations.
The Company’s lead programs are rooted in groundbreaking research conducted at the University of Aarhus, University of Southern Denmark, and INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy. As part of the financing round, Spica also entered a strategic collaboration with VUB and VIB. This partnership gives Spica access to world-class scientific expertise in Belgium further strengthening its scientific and translational capabilities.
“We are thrilled to have the support of such a strong syndicate of investors and collaborators who share our vision of transforming patient care through innovative macrophage-targeted therapies,” said James Rush, Chief Executive Officer of Spica Therapeutics.
“Spica’s progress highlights the strength of our venture creation model and underscores the potential of macrophage biology to redefine therapeutic paradigms” commented Debora Dumont, Managing Partner at Bioqube Ventures. This sentiment was echoed by Bart De Taeye, Investment Director at the Flemish investment company PMV, representing FFTF in the board “We are excited to co-lead this financing round that will enable Spica to progress their lead programs and further validate their unique approach in modulating disease-driving macrophage subsets.”
Spica Therapeutics is a pioneering biotech company dedicated to transforming macrophage biology into breakthrough therapies for patients across multiple therapeutic areas. Leveraging its proprietary functional macrophage fingerprinting technology, Spica identifies and selectively targets disease-relevant macrophage subsets to address unmet medical needs in oncology and fibroinflammatory diseases. Founded on groundbreaking research conducted at the University of Aarhus, University of Southern Denmark, and INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Spica operates from its headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium, with a site in Aarhus, Denmark. Powered by Bioqube Ventures’ venture creation model, the company is advancing a robust pipeline of innovative therapies designed to modulate macrophages and improve patient outcomes.
