Exeliom Biosciences secures €2.85M extension to Series A funding, bringing total round to nearly €12M

Funds build on close to €30M in legacy support to advance Exeliom’s immunomodulator program, EXL01, addressing cancers, inflammatory and infectious diseases 

Paris, France, October 21, 2025 — Exeliom Biosciences, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing new therapies in immuno-oncology and immuno-inflammation, today announces the successful completion of a €2.85 million ($3.31M) extension to its Series A round, bringing the total Series A funding to €11.85 million ($13.78M). This extension, led by existing investors Biocodex with participation by Crescent Ventures, UI Investissement and Forepont Capital Partners, builds on the company’s legacy of nearly €30 million ($35M) in dilutive and non-dilutive funding since its founding in 2016.

The new funding will support the continued clinical development and international expansion of Exeliom’s lead program, EXL01, with a focus on advancing proof-of-concept Phase 2 studies and preparing for a new cancer indication in the US. 

“Exeliom is deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our investors, which has enabled us to transform EXL01 from a microbiome therapy into a precision NOD2-targeting immunomodulator, using a live bacterial strain as its delivery mode,” said Benjamin Hadida, CEO of Exeliom. “The evolution of this small-molecule-like approach unlocks new indications, not only expanding our therapeutic potential but also positioning us for international growth, including a new cancer study underway in the US.”

Over the past two years, Exeliom has made significant strides in demonstrating the mechanism of action of EXL01, identifying NOD2 as its key target. The NOD2 pathway is a central component of the body’s innate immune system and a well-validated target in the pharmaceutical industry, with two approved products already on the market. EXL01 exhibits superior NOD2-agonist properties and activates a distinct NOD2 signaling profile compared to existing approaches, positioning it as a potentially first-in-class therapy in this emerging field. 

“Supporting Exeliom Biosciences perfectly embodies a partnership rooted in scientific excellence, guided by long-term vision and driven by our shared conviction that microbiota-based innovation can transform the management of complex immune-mediated diseases. Together, we aim to turn pioneering science into sustainable health solutions for patients worldwide,” said Jean-Marie Lefevre, chairman of Biocodex.

“Forepont Capital are excited at the scientific and clinical advancements made by Exeliom, particularly that Faecalibacterium prausnitzii modulates the immune system via the NOD2 pathway, which is important for regulating innate immunity and is therefore an important target for therapeutics,” said Ismail Kola, senior partner at Forepont. 

Exeliom has succeeded in evaluating its lead candidate EXL01 in five ongoing clinical studies, including BIG, the largest randomized Phase 2 study in oncology involving a bacterial approach. Exeliom is accelerating the development of EXL01 and building a robust pipeline for the future.

Since its inception, Exeliom has raised nearly €30 million, including €7 million ($8.1M) in seed funding (2018, extended to €10 million [$11.6M] in 2021) and €8 million ($9.3M) in a Series A round (2023, extended to €11.85 million in 2025), complemented by non-dilutive funding from Bpifrance and the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator under the Horizon 2020 program. The company’s innovative virtual model, built on external innovation and strategic academic partnerships, has enabled it to thrive even amid the biotech industry’s most challenging funding environment.

France-based Act Legal served as advisors.

About Biocodex

Biocodex is an independent French pharmaceutical company present in over 100 countries through subsidiaries and partners. A pioneer in microbiota research, it has made this ecosystem a core strategic focus, firmly convinced of its essential role in global health. The Group develops innovative healthcare solutions in four complementary areas: microbiota, women’s health, rare diseases, and established products meeting common health needs (mental health, sleep, pain…). Biocodex remains true to its family-owned identity and promotes a committed vision of health that combines scientific excellence, a strong French industrial base, international reach and social responsibility.

Empowering everyone to live fully is its purpose — one shared by its 1,800 employees around the world.

www.biocodex.com

About Forepont Capital Partners

Founded in 2017, Forepont Capital Partners is a healthcare venture capital firm with a strong focus on Neurotech. Headquartered in New York and strategically present in Palo Alto, London, Paris, and Dubai, the firm is embedded in the world’s leading innovation hubs, offering direct access to key decision-makers and opportunities. Through long-standing relationships with top medical institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and academic research centers, Forepont has built a trusted network that consistently identifies and supports high-potential startups. Its Partners are seasoned investors and business builders with extensive experience in launching, operating, financing, scaling, and successfully exiting numerous companies.

www.forepont.com

About Exeliom Biosciences 

Exeliom Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a new generation of innate immune modulators to restore and enhance patients’ immune responsiveness in cancer, inflammatory diseases and chronic infections.

Our lead candidate, EXL01, is a bacterial-derived, NOD2-targeting immunomodulator that activates macrophages and reprograms the immune microenvironment. By doing so, EXL01 has the potential to overcome resistance to existing therapies and significantly enhance the efficacy of immunotherapies.

EXL01 is currently being evaluated in three Phase 2 oncology trials in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors, including the largest randomized Phase 2 study worldwide evaluating a bacterial approach in gastric cancer. In addition, EXL01 has completed a Phase 1 study in Crohn’s disease and is now being investigated in a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial in the same disease. The program also includes a Phase 2 randomized, placebo-controlled trial for the prevention of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection.

Founded in 2016 and based in Paris, Exeliom builds on the expertise of world-leading scientists and has raised close to €30 million to date, supported by leading investors and institutions including Bpifrance, the European Innovation Council and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America.

www.exeliombio.com