The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has participated in a significant $132 million Series B funding round for Artbio, a US-based clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical sciences company. This strategic investment underscores Qatar’s growing focus on backing pioneering companies in the global healthcare and deep tech sectors.
By the Numbers
- Total Round Size: $132 Million
- Round Type: Series B
- MENA Investor: Qatar Investment Authority (QIA)
- Lead Investors: Third Rock Ventures, unnamed US-based healthcare investor
- Other Investors: F-Prime Capital, Omega Funds
Strategic Investment in Next-Generation Cancer Treatment
Artbio is at the forefront of developing a new class of targeted cancer therapies. The company’s proprietary AlphaDirect™ platform is engineered to create highly targeted alpha radioligand therapies (ARTs), which offer a promising approach to treating cancer with precision. This investment from QIA and other prominent VCs signals strong confidence in Artbio’s potential to revolutionize oncology treatment.
Driving Clinical Advancement and Manufacturing
The newly secured capital will be instrumental in advancing Artbio’s pipeline and infrastructure. A key priority is progressing its lead program, AB001, which targets prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) for the treatment of prostate cancer. Furthermore, the funds will support the expansion of the company’s manufacturing capabilities, a critical step in bringing these complex therapies from the lab to patients at scale.
QIA’s Growing Global Healthcare Portfolio
This move aligns with the Qatar Investment Authority’s stated strategy of investing in innovative companies that are shaping the future of healthcare. In a statement, Mansoor Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud, CEO of QIA, emphasized the sovereign wealth fund’s commitment to supporting companies like Artbio that are developing cutting-edge solutions for major global health challenges. By participating in this round, QIA not only diversifies its portfolio but also positions itself at the center of advancements in biotechnology.
About Artbio
Founded in 2021, Artbio is a clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical company dedicated to redefining cancer care. Leveraging its novel AlphaDirect™ platform, the company is developing a pipeline of precision alpha radioligand therapies. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with facilities in Basel, Switzerland, and Germantown, Maryland, Artbio aims to build a vertically integrated company to develop, manufacture, and deliver these next-generation treatments to cancer patients worldwide.
Looking Ahead
The participation of a major MENA sovereign wealth fund like QIA in a US-based biotech round is highly significant. It demonstrates the increasing sophistication and global reach of the region’s top investors, who are moving beyond traditional asset classes into deep tech and life sciences. For the MENA tech and investment ecosystem, such deals highlight a pathway for capital to foster global innovation, potentially leading to future knowledge transfer, strategic partnerships, and long-term economic returns for the region.
Source: Jawlah
