Three start-ups from the Innovation and Start-up Center for Biotechnology (IZB) in Martinsried celebrated major successes at the European Lifestars Awards in London. These awards honor innovative contributions, groundbreaking developments, and transformative investments in the fields of life sciences and medical technology.

With their outstanding projects, pioneering technologies, and successful financing deals, the companies Tubulis, CatalYm, and SciRhom impressed the jury and prevailed against strong competition. Their achievements are a testament to the excellent work of their teams and the relevance of their approaches, which open up promising new paths in therapeutic development.

The award winners from the IZB:

Tubulis GmbH
Tubulis secured two of the coveted awards: as the winner in the category “Series B Finance Raise of the Year” and as “Biotech of the Year.” Represented by Dominik Schumacher, Ingo Lehrke, and Christian Groehndahl, the company completed a Series B2 financing round in March 2024, raising €128 million. The funds will be used to accelerate the clinical development of its ADC (Antibody-Drug Conjugates) pipeline, focused on solid tumors. In 2017, Tubulis won the m4 Award, a pre-seed competition coordinated by BioM. Sponsored by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, the m4 Award is endowed with a total of €2.5 million and targets academic research projects with spin-off potential in the field of biomedicine. Since then, 17 spin-offs have been successfully launched.

CatalYm GmbH
The immuno-oncology specialist CatalYm won in the category “Late-Stage Venture Round – Series C.” Represented by Anne Burger, the company raised $150 million in July 2024 to fund a comprehensive Phase 2b development program for its drug Visugromab. CatalYm’s approach is based on GDF-15-neutralizing therapies designed to enhance the body’s own efficient anti-tumor response.

SciRhom GmbH
SciRhom achieved 3rd place in the category “Series A Finance Raise of the Year.” Represented by Jan Poth, the start-up secured €63 million in a Series A financing round in July 2024. The funds will be used to advance the development of its iRhom2 therapies, designed for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Innovative power at the IZB
The successes of the three award-winning start-ups highlight the role of the IZB as one of Europe’s leading biotechnology centers. The IZB congratulates Tubulis, CatalYm, and SciRhom on their outstanding achievements, which not only showcase the innovative strength of the start-ups but also demonstrate the impressive vitality of the biotech ecosystem in Martinsried.