What EMUNO Therapeutics does

EMUNO Therapeutics GmbH is a pre-clinical stage biotech founded in 2024 as a University of Freiburg spin-off, headquartered in Freiburg, Germany. The company develops small-molecule immune modulators for cancer and autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, with a stated focus on late-stage solid tumors such as colorectal cancer that do not respond to current immunotherapies. Its lead asset, EMT-224, is positioned as a first-in-class small molecule immune activator designed to convert immunologically "cold" tumors into "hot" ones, with claimed synergies with checkpoint inhibitors and potential for monotherapy. The underlying technology is a proprietary functional screening platform paired with an effect-driven discovery approach that evaluates the desired net effect on entire immune pathways rather than predefining mode-of-action, intended to produce pathway-specific therapeutics with superior safety, oral bioavailability, and tissue penetration.

The company is led by three co-founders: Dr. Emilia Neuwirt (CEO, pharmacist and pharma sciences PhD), Prof. Dr. Olaf Groß (CSO, internationally recognized innate immunity researcher with two prior ERC grants and publications in Nature, Science, Immunity, and Cancer Cell), and Dr. Andreas Vogt (CFO & Strategy Officer, former trauma surgeon and EMEA healthcare practice lead at AlixPartners with 20+ life sciences M&A transactions). EMUNO's business model is licensing and partnership-driven: the IMMUNOCON project explicitly develops a commercial roadmap to out-license pipeline assets to pharmaceutical partners for clinical development, manufacturing, and global commercialization, with EU-based CROs supporting pre-clinical work and GMP manufacturing. Revenue is not yet generated; the company is currently funded by non-dilutive grants, including a €2.5M+ European Innovation Council (EIC) Transition Fund award secured in January 2025 building on the prior ERC Proof of Concept project IMMUNOSTIM.

Name

EMUNO Therapeutics

Legal name

EMUNO Therapeutics GmbH

Website

https://emuno.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

EMUNO Therapeutics is a University of Freiburg spin-off biotech developing first-in-class small-molecule immune modulators, with lead candidate EMT-224 targeting late-stage solid cancers such as colorectal cancer, intending to license its pipeline to pharmaceutical partners for clinical development and commercialization.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immuno-oncology drug discovery

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Immunology & Autoimmune Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Immunology & Inflammation Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAD)

Keywords

• Small molecule therapeutics
• Immuno-oncology drug discovery
• Immune modulator development
• Cancer immunotherapy research
• Functional screening platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Freiburg Im Breisgau

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Drug Development and Licensing: EMUNO is a pre-revenue biotech company developing small molecule therapeutics. Expected revenue model will involve licensing drug candidates to pharmaceutical partners at various development stages, with potential milestone payments and royalties on commercialized products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

EMUNO Therapeutics develops small-molecule immune modulators for cancer and autoimmune or inflammatory diseases by combining functional screening with an effect-driven discovery approach to design pathway-specific therapeutics. Its lead asset EMT-224 is a first-in-class small molecule immune activator intended to convert immunologically 'cold' tumors into 'hot' ones, enhancing responsiveness to checkpoint inhibitors in late-stage solid cancers such as colorectal cancer. Revenue is expected through licensing and pharma partnerships rather than direct product sales.

Product overview

EMUNO Therapeutics is a drug development company with a pipeline of small molecule therapeutics in immunology and immuno-oncology. The company's lead product is EMT-224, a first-in-class small molecule immune activator being advanced through the IMMUNOCON project towards clinical readiness for treating late-stage solid cancers. The pipeline portfolio covers small molecules with potential in cancer treatment and immunology, with candidates differentiated by unique safety profiles and drug-like properties including oral bioavailability and efficient tissue penetration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EMT-224 First-in-class small molecule immune activator designed to convert immunologically 'cold' tumors into 'hot' ones, enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors for late-stage solid cancers such as colorectal cancer; indicated for pharmaceutical partners for licensing and clinical development.

Quantifiable outcome

• EMT-224 converts 'cold' tumors into 'hot' tumors, enhancing efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and advisory.

• University of FreiburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMUNO is a successful university spin-off from the University of Freiburg. Prof. Dr. Robert Zeiser from University Hospital Freiburg serves on the EMUNO Advisory Board as Division Head Tumour Immunology and Director Clinical Trials Unit.
• Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies (CIBSS)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMUNO is supported by CIBSS at University of Freiburg, which focuses on integrative biological signaling studies relevant to EMUNO's immunology research.
• Prof. Dr. Matthias GeyeradvisoryOthersDirector Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, serves on EMUNO Advisory Board providing scientific expertise.
• Prof. Dr. Thorsten BuchadvisoryOthersVice Dean of Innovation and Digitalization, University of Zurich, and Founding Director Zurich Hub for Drug and Device Development (ZH3D), serves on EMUNO Advisory Board.
• Prof. Dr. Robert ZeiseradvisoryOthersDivision Head Tumour Immunology, Director Clinical Trials Unit, University Hospital Freiburg; Award Winner Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz-Preis 2025; serves on EMUNO Advisory Board.
• Prof. Dr. Florian GretenadvisoryOthersDirector of Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt, and colorectal cancer expert, serves on EMUNO Advisory Board.
• Prof. Dr. Dr. Melanie BörriesadvisoryOthersDirector of the Institute of Medical Bioinformatics & Systems Medicine (IBSM), University Hospital Freiburg, serves on EMUNO Advisory Board.
• Prof. Dr. Matthias SchiedeladvisoryOthersDirector of the Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Münster, serves on EMUNO Advisory Board.
• Regenold GmbHadvisoryOthersDr. Maximilian Regenold, CEO of Regenold GmbH, serves on EMUNO Advisory Board as regulatory expert.
• CRO Partners (EU-based)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe IMMUNOCON project relies on EU-based Contract Research Organizations (CROs) for pre-clinical studies and manufacturing, strengthening Europe's biopharmaceutical supply chain.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NodThera: UK-based clinical-stage biotech developing small-molecule NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors for inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. Direct mechanistic peer to EMUNO's NLRP3 expertise and small-molecule immune-modulator platform, with NodThera being more advanced (clinical stage) and focused on chronic inflammation rather than oncology.
• iOnctura: Geneva-based clinical-stage biotech developing small-molecule immunomodulators for cancer and inflammation, with programs targeting immune checkpoints and intracellular pathways. Closely comparable European small-molecule immuno-oncology peer with similar pre-clinical/early-clinical stage and business model (partnership-driven).
• IFM Therapeutics (now IFM Due, acquired by BMS): Was a US-based small-molecule biotech developing NLRP3 and STING-targeted innate immune modulators for inflammatory disease and cancer. Acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb for up to $2.3B in 2020; serves as a direct valuation/strategic benchmark for NLRP3-focused small-molecule platforms of the kind EMUNO is building.
• Innate Pharma: French-listed clinical-stage biopharma focused on innate immunity and immuno-oncology, developing NK cell engagers, TLR agonists, and immune modulators for cancer. Highly comparable to EMUNO in therapeutic area (innate immunity, oncology) and modality-adjacent focus, with the major difference being Innate's clinical/commercial maturity versus EMUNO's pre-clinical stage.
• Olatec Therapeutics: US-based clinical-stage biotech developing small-molecule NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors (lead asset dapansutrile) for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Direct mechanistic peer to EMUNO's NLRP3 program and small-molecule platform, focused on indications like gout, cardiovascular, and autoimmune conditions.
• Inflazome (acquired by Roche): Was an Ireland-based small-molecule biotech developing NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors for inflammatory disease. Acquired by Roche in 2020 (€380M upfront plus milestones). Most directly analogous peer to EMUNO's NLRP3 small-molecule program and a key M&A benchmark for the category.

Emerging players

• Werewolf Therapeutics: US-based clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing INDUKINE prodrugs designed to deliver immune-stimulatory payloads selectively to the tumor microenvironment. Highly relevant therapeutic-area peer (immuno-oncology, cold-to-hot concept) but uses biologic prodrugs rather than small molecules.
• Nuvation Bio: US-listed clinical-stage oncology company developing small-molecule therapies including differentiated kinase inhibitors and next-generation targeted oncology agents. Comparable as a small-molecule oncology biotech at a more advanced stage, though focused on different mechanisms (kinase inhibition vs. immune activation).
• Surface Oncology: US-based clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing antibody-based immunotherapies targeting the tumor microenvironment to convert cold tumors to hot. Therapeutic-area peer in immuno-oncology with similar cold-tumor hypothesis, but operating with antibody modality rather than small molecules.
• Bolt Biotherapeutics: US-based clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing Immune-Stimulating Antibody Conjugates (ISACs) that deliver immune-stimulatory payloads to tumors, with the goal of converting cold tumors into hot ones. Direct strategic peer in the 'cold-to-hot' tumor thesis but using a biologic-conjugate platform rather than small molecules.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emuno

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EMUNO Therapeutics