Austrian Biotech Startup Epitome Therapeutics Secures €4 Million in Funding
Vienna-based Epitome Therapeutics announced €4 million in total funding to advance its precision epigenome editing platform and expand its team.
Epitome Therapeutics, a Vienna-based biotech company specializing in precision epigenome editing for programmable gene expression, today announced a total of €4 million in funding. This includes an oversubscribed €2 million pre-seed equity round and €2 million in non-dilutive grants. The round was co-led by XISTA Science Ventures and Caesar Ventures, with participation from Navec Venture Holding GmbH.
Founded in 2025 as a spin-off from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), the company was launched by CEO Dr. Guido Gualdoni and CSO Dr. Jamie Hackett. Epitome Therapeutics is developing a therapeutic approach based on precise regulation of gene expression using its proprietary CADENCE platform. The platform enables precise, durable, and calibrated activation of gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence.
“We are launching Epitome Therapeutics with the support of a strong group of investors and partners,” said Dr. Gualdoni. “Completing an oversubscribed financing is a strong endorsement of both our team and the potential of the CADENCE platform. The new funding will allow us to advance the platform, expand our team, and work toward selecting our first drug candidate.”
The funding reflects a broader trend in the European biotech landscape in 2026, with significant capital flowing into early-stage therapeutic platforms, gene and cell therapy infrastructure, RNA technologies, and AI-enabled drug discovery. Examples include TRIMTECH Therapeutics’ €41 million seed round and iDEL Therapeutics’ €9 million seed financing.
“We were impressed by the breakthrough nature of Epitome Therapeutics’ approach to epigenome editing, especially its focus on targeted upregulation,” said Alexander Schwartz, Partner at XISTA Science Ventures. “We are delighted to be among the first to support the company as it achieves its first development milestones.”
The company’s modular platform, built around a library of engineered epigenetic effectors, is designed to tailor gene activation to specific biological contexts, aiming for greater precision, flexibility, and safety than earlier approaches.
