Zumutor Biologics Secures $7.3 Mn To Advance Clinical Trials For Cancer Therapy

Biotech startup Zumutor Biologics has raised $7.3 Mn (about ₹70 Cr) in its Series B funding round from existing investors Accel and Bharat Innovation Fund, alongside new investors Premji Invest, and angel investors like Ashish Kacholia and Raj Dandu.

The startup said it plans to use the funds to complete its ongoing US FDA Phase 1 clinical study of its drug ZM008, both as a monotherapy and in combination regimens. It will also use the capital to initiate Phase 1B expansion cohorts and global Phase 2 studies, including in India.

Founded in 2013 by Kavitha Iyer Rodrigues, Zumutor develops immunotherapy drugs that activate the body’s natural immune cells, particularly natural killer (NK) cells, to attack tumours and improve cancer treatment outcomes.

The startup said ZM008 is a first-in-class NK cell checkpoint designed to unlock the power of innate immunity against cancer. It began human trials with ZM008 in 2024. 

“Early clinical data from the ongoing Phase 1 study of ZM008 highlight the differentiated potential of novel NK checkpoint therapy for solid tumors. Building on these findings, we are expanding into dose expansion cohorts and combination studies across multiple tumor types,” Zumutor’s chief scientific officer Maloy Ghosh said.

The biotech startup has two proprietary ‘Antibody Engineering Platforms’ to develop novel immunotherapies that target innate immunity and regulate the tumor microenvironment.

Prior to this, Zumutor raised $6.2 Mn in its Series A4 funding round led by Siana Capital in 2021. The startup is headquartered in the US and has an R&D laboratory in Bengaluru.

The funding announcement comes amid a push by the central government to promote the biotech sector. During her Budget speech this year, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a new ‘Biopharma SHAKTI’ scheme with an outlay of ₹10,000 Cr. Besides a single-window clearance portal for biological research, the Centre also offers funding and incubation support to biotech startups under the BIRAC SEED scheme.  

Investors are also actively backing biotech startups due to the growing regulatory push. They are also eyeing a share of India’s bioeconomy, which is projected to become a $300 Bn market opportunity by 2030. 

Last month, StrainX Bioworks raised $13 Mn (around ₹124 Cr) to expand capacity at its Bhopal bio-manufacturing fermentation facility and commence commercial-scale production. Prior to that, Cellogen Therapeutics netted ₹20 Cr (about $2 Mn) to advance its CAR‑T clinical programmes and expand its gene therapy pipeline. 

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