Zetagen Therapeutics Announces Oversubscribed $12.9M Series B1 Financing to Advance Breakthrough Intratumoral Therapies for Breast Cancer
Zetagen Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing first-in-class intratumoral therapies for metastatic and primary breast cancer, today announced the successful completion of its Series B1 financing round, raising $12,908,000. The fundraising effort was fully oversubscribed, underscoring a high level of investor enthusiasm and confidence in the commercial and clinical potential of the company’s proprietary Zeta Platform.
This funding milestone marks a pivotal step in Zetagen’s trajectory as it transitions from early clinical validation to late-stage clinical readiness. Fuelled by compelling early efficacy signals, expanding intellectual property, and momentum in scientific recognition, the company is positioned to enter a new phase of growth, strategic execution, and preparation for future regulatory engagement.
Strategic Use of Capital
Proceeds from the oversubscribed Series B1 round will be directed toward multiple late-stage corporate and clinical priorities. These include advancing the company’s lead asset, ZetaMet™ (Zeta-BC-003), toward commercialization, accelerating the clinical development of ZetaMast™ (Zeta-MBC-005), and completing IND-enabling studies and GMP manufacturing for ZetaPrime™ (Zeta-PBC-007). Together, these programs form a pipeline of next-generation localized treatment modalities aimed at eliminating tumors at the source while minimizing systemic toxicities—an unmet need in current breast cancer treatment paradigms.
Executive Perspective and Scientific Breakthrough
“The strong demand in our Series B1 financing round highlights the significance and promise of our Phase 2a clinical data for ZetaMet and its potential to transform the treatment landscape for metastatic breast cancer involving the bone,” said Joe C. Loy, CEO of Zetagen Therapeutics. “At the core of these results is our discovery of a novel molecular pathway activated through conserved nuclear receptor signaling. This mechanism has demonstrated reliable translational predictability from preclinical research to human dosing—an extremely rare and valuable advantage in oncology drug development.”
Loy added that the financing round represents more than capital—it reflects industry recognition of Zetagen’s differentiated approach to cancer treatment and validates its strategic direction as it works toward commercialization.
The Zeta Platform: A Novel Approach to Breast Cancer Treatment
Central to the company’s innovation strategy is its Zeta Platform, a next-generation therapeutic architecture designed to deliver tumor-killing agents directly to cancerous tissue through a single, localized injection. Unlike systemic cancer therapies that circulate throughout the body and often cause debilitating side effects, Zetagen’s approach utilizes proprietary delivery mechanisms to confine active compounds to the tumor site. This method aims not only to improve clinical outcomes but also to meaningfully enhance patient quality of life.
The platform is built around controlled-release formulations, hydrogel-based drug depots, and novel tumoricidal compounds engineered to target both metastatic and primary breast cancer. Through this localized delivery method, the platform reduces systemic exposure, increases treatment precision, and supports faster tissue recovery.
Pipeline Programs and Clinical Progress
Zetagen currently has three core development programs advancing under the Zeta Platform framework:
ZetaMet™ (Zeta-BC-003)
Lead Candidate | Clinical Stage: Phase 2a Completed
ZetaMet is designed to treat metastatic breast cancer lesions in bone through a single intratumoral injection. The therapy has demonstrated the ability to halt osteolytic activity, reduce skeletal pain, regenerate bone, and avoid systemic dose-limiting toxicities—a breakthrough for patients with bone metastases, a population often underserved by current treatment options.
A completed Phase 2a clinical study conducted at the University of British Columbia produced encouraging results, including lesion-level complete responses, full bone healing, and no skeletal-related events. Preliminary data from this trial will be presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), one of the field’s most prestigious international scientific meetings.
ZetaMast™ (Zeta-MBC-005)
Clinical Stage: Pre-IND | Phase 1b Trial Expected in 1H-2026
ZetaMast utilizes a proprietary hydrogel system delivering two synergistic tumor-killing compounds into liver metastases originating from breast cancer. The treatment has demonstrated significant preclinical benefit, including reduced tumor burden, improved survival, and prevention of metastatic dissemination. Results were published in PLOS ONE and co-authored by leading breast cancer expert Dr. Debu Tripathy, highlighting external validation of its scientific foundation.
A first-in-human Phase 1b dose-escalation study is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2026.
ZetaPrime™ (Zeta-PBC-007)
Development Stage: IND-Enabling | Preclinical Data Accepted for Presentation
ZetaPrime is a neo-adjuvant therapy intended for early-stage, primary breast cancer immediately following diagnosis. Delivered intratumorally, the formulation incorporates a controlled-release mechanism capable of carrying a novel small molecule and/or a CDK4/6 inhibitor directly into adipose-dense breast tissue.
Early in-vivo studies demonstrated improved tumor suppression and survival compared with Tamoxifen and Verzenio in preclinical head-to-head evaluations. These results will also be featured at SABCS.
Recent Corporate Milestones
The close of the Series B1 round follows a period of significant corporate and scientific progress, including:
- Expansion of the company’s global intellectual property estate to more than 70 issued patents, including composition-of-matter protections and platform claims
- Completion of the Phase 2a clinical trial evaluating ZetaMet for metastatic breast cancer to bone
- Acceptance of multiple scientific abstracts for presentation at SABCS, including the first clinical results from ZetaMet and comparative preclinical data from ZetaPrime
With newly secured capital, strengthening scientific validation, and growing stakeholder support, Zetagen Therapeutics is preparing for its next stage of clinical milestones and organizational expansion. The company will continue building clinical evidence, scaling manufacturing capacity, engaging with regulators, and preparing for eventual commercialization and partnership opportunities.
About Zetagen Therapeutics
Zetagen Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing localized cancer therapies designed to fundamentally shift how metastatic and primary breast cancer is treated. Using its proprietary Zeta Platform, the company is pioneering single-dose, intratumoral treatments aimed at improving survival outcomes while reducing toxicity and enhancing patient quality of life.
About Zetagen Therapeutics
Zetagen has three novel drugs in development with the Zeta Platform, ZetaMet™ (Zeta-BC-003), for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer to bone, ZetaMast™ (Zeta-MBC-005) for breast cancer liver metastases (BCLM), and ZetaPrime™ (Zeta-PBC-007) for the treatment of primary HR+ breast cancer, all with inspiring results. To learn more, visit www.zetagen.com. The entire Zeta platform is designed for intratumoral administration to reduce off-target toxicity, utilizing proprietary carriers—some incorporating our New Molecular Entity. The USPTO has granted Zetagen Composition-of-Matter patents and claims for all three therapeutics.
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