Business · Companies · 9 hrs ago
German biotech SRTD raises €31.5 million for mRNA therapies
German biotech company SRTD raised €31.5 million in seed funding to develop a new kind of mRNA medicine.
Based in Jülich near Aachen, the company is developing treatments that use mRNA to identify diseased cells and kill or reprogram them, while sparing healthy tissue.
Many existing treatments affect the whole body, so SRTD’s approach aims to make treatment more targeted and potentially safer, including for aggressive tumors.
The funding will support drug development for cancer, autoimmune diseases and fibrosis, and is one of Europe’s largest preclinical seed rounds.
Investors include Mérieux Equity Partners, which led the round, as well as Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund and Lilly Ventures.
SRTD plans to begin its first human trial in 2029; the company has not yet tested its treatment in people.
After the funding round, Matthias Alder became chief executive, and SRTD plans to expand its team.
Jülich-based biotech company SRTD has raised €31.5 million in seed funding to develop mRNA therapies.
The funding round was led by French investment firm Mérieux Equity Partners and included several biotech investors.
SRTD says its technology is designed to identify diseased cells and use mRNA to kill or reprogram them while sparing healthy tissue.
The company plans to advance drug candidates for cancer, autoimmune diseases and fibrosis toward clinical development.
Its first candidate is expected to enter a clinical study in humans in 2029.
- Who
- SRTD, a biotech company based in Jülich near Aachen, raised the funding. Mérieux Equity Partners led the round.
- What
- SRTD completed a €31.5 million seed financing to develop mRNA-based medicines.
- When
- The financing was reported on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- SRTD is based in Jülich, near Aachen, Germany.
- Why
- The funding is intended to advance drug development for cancer, autoimmune diseases and fibrosis toward clinical development.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
SRTD was founded.
mRNA technology was first used commercially as a Covid-19 vaccine developed by BioNTech founders.
Matthias Alder was appointed managing director of SRTD.
SRTD plans to begin the first human clinical study of its first drug candidate.
- Funding
- €31.5 million
- Lead investor
- Mérieux Equity Partners
- Company location
- Jülich, near Aachen, Germany
- Planned first human study
- 2029
- Diseases targeted
- Cancer, autoimmune diseases and fibrosis
What people are saying
SRTD opens up a completely new field that the market has not yet seen in the mRNA sector.
mRNA is no longer just a medical issue, but also a question of how independently Europe is positioned in key areas.
We are bringing additional top talent into the team to make this investment truly competitive not only for Germany, but for the entire global mRNA sector.