Top 8 Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) startups
Nov 17, 2025
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These startups develop ADC cancer therapies that combine monoclonal antibodies with cytotoxic drugs, delivering the drug directly to cancer cells thus minimizing damage to healthy tissues.
1
Country: France | Funding: €135M
Adcytherix is dedicated to creating and advancing innovative antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that go beyond current limitations. By combining state-of-the-art payload innovation with deep ADC development expertise, the company aims to revolutionize targeted therapies for cancer and other conditions of significant unmet medical need. Most existing ADCs rely on two classes of payloads, tubulin and topoisomerase 1 inhibitors. Adcytherix is investigating novel payloads classes with mechanisms of action selected to overcome tumor resistance while enhancing safety, with the potential to manage a wider range of cancers. Adcytherix is guided by a experienced management team and is backed by a network of top-tier experts in the field of ADC development.
Adcytherix is dedicated to creating and advancing innovative antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that go beyond current limitations. By combining state-of-the-art payload innovation with deep ADC development expertise, the company aims to revolutionize targeted therapies for cancer and other conditions of significant unmet medical need. Most existing ADCs rely on two classes of payloads, tubulin and topoisomerase 1 inhibitors. Adcytherix is investigating novel payloads classes with mechanisms of action selected to overcome tumor resistance while enhancing safety, with the potential to manage a wider range of cancers. Adcytherix is guided by a experienced management team and is backed by a network of top-tier experts in the field of ADC development.
2
Country: USA | Funding: $75M
Neok is a spin-off of Korean biotech ABL, that paired its antibody skills with linker-payload technology to build a pipeline of ADCs. Neok was started with two ADC-candidates from ABL and plans to test them and deliver the first human data in 2027. The drugs target thoracic, gastrointestinal and gynecological cancers via ROR1, EGFR and MUC1 proteins. The expression of these proteins by some healthy cells makes on-target, off-tumor toxicity a concern for drugs that engage the receptor. But, in theory, Neok's bispecific design (which is fine-tuned for each target antigen pair) could improve safety. This dual-targeting strategy has the potential to target a wider range of tumors, overcome drug resistance.
Neok is a spin-off of Korean biotech ABL, that paired its antibody skills with linker-payload technology to build a pipeline of ADCs. Neok was started with two ADC-candidates from ABL and plans to test them and deliver the first human data in 2027. The drugs target thoracic, gastrointestinal and gynecological cancers via ROR1, EGFR and MUC1 proteins. The expression of these proteins by some healthy cells makes on-target, off-tumor toxicity a concern for drugs that engage the receptor. But, in theory, Neok's bispecific design (which is fine-tuned for each target antigen pair) could improve safety. This dual-targeting strategy has the potential to target a wider range of tumors, overcome drug resistance.
3
Country: Switzerland | Funding: $1B
ADC Therapeutics is focused on the creation of proprietary Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) for the therapy of both solid and hematological cancers. It uses monoclonal antibodies specific to specific tumor antigens conjugated to a innovative class of highly potent pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD)-based warheads to specifically kill cancer cells. The company is expanding ZYNLONTA into earlier stages of DLBCL and indolent lymphomas. In addition, IND-enabling efforts are in progress for the Company’s exatecan-based, prostate-specific membrane antigen.
ADC Therapeutics is focused on the creation of proprietary Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) for the therapy of both solid and hematological cancers. It uses monoclonal antibodies specific to specific tumor antigens conjugated to a innovative class of highly potent pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD)-based warheads to specifically kill cancer cells. The company is expanding ZYNLONTA into earlier stages of DLBCL and indolent lymphomas. In addition, IND-enabling efforts are in progress for the Company’s exatecan-based, prostate-specific membrane antigen.
4
Country: Germany | Funding: €508M
Tubulis produces uniquely matched antibody-drug conjugates with exceptional biophysical properties that have shown durable on-tumor delivery and long-lasting anti-tumor activity. Its P5 Conjugation Technology allows to quickly generate highly stable ADCs with chemical flexibility that provides the potential to develop truly differentiated ADCs. Leveraging this technology, the Tubutecan Platform allows stable, high DAR 8 conjugation of potent topoisomerase-I inhibitors with improved on-target delivery and decreased off-target toxicity – without compromising ADC properties. The company is developing a portfolio of ADCs that can target previously unreachable targeting molecules and carry novel payloads.
Tubulis produces uniquely matched antibody-drug conjugates with exceptional biophysical properties that have shown durable on-tumor delivery and long-lasting anti-tumor activity. Its P5 Conjugation Technology allows to quickly generate highly stable ADCs with chemical flexibility that provides the potential to develop truly differentiated ADCs. Leveraging this technology, the Tubutecan Platform allows stable, high DAR 8 conjugation of potent topoisomerase-I inhibitors with improved on-target delivery and decreased off-target toxicity – without compromising ADC properties. The company is developing a portfolio of ADCs that can target previously unreachable targeting molecules and carry novel payloads.
5
Country: Denmark | Funding: $249.6M
ADCendo is dedicated to developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for treatment of cancer. We are taking the ADC approach to new levels through a focus on cancer-associated targets that are professional internalizers and allow for superior selectivity via highly preferential cancer expression.
ADCendo is dedicated to developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for treatment of cancer. We are taking the ADC approach to new levels through a focus on cancer-associated targets that are professional internalizers and allow for superior selectivity via highly preferential cancer expression.
6
Country: USA | Funding: $247M
ProfoundBio is a developer of targeted therapeutics intended for patients with cancer.
ProfoundBio is a developer of targeted therapeutics intended for patients with cancer.
7
Country: UK | Funding: $188M
Pheon Therapeutics is an Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) specialist that creates ADCs for a variety of difficult-to-treat cancers.
Pheon Therapeutics is an Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) specialist that creates ADCs for a variety of difficult-to-treat cancers.
8
Country: Switzerland | Funding: $65.7M
NBE-Therapeutics develops next-generation ADCs improving treatment options for cancer patients. The company is financially backed by the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund and additional private investors.
NBE-Therapeutics develops next-generation ADCs improving treatment options for cancer patients. The company is financially backed by the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund and additional private investors.
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