Belgian techbio startup Sightera Biosciences has raised €3 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Entourage, Anacura and QBIC.
The investment will help the company accelerate the development of its AI-powered drug discovery platform, which focuses on finding new treatments for oncology and fibrosis. The funding will also support the next stage of platform development as Sightera works to bring AI-driven drug discovery closer to clinical application.
About Sightera Biosciences
Headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, Sightera Biosciences is an AI-native biotech company founded by Hendrik Vercammen, Maxim Le Compte, Christophe Deben and Lars Vanlommel. The company was launched as a spin-off from the University of Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), combining expertise in artificial intelligence, translational biology and drug discovery.
Unlike many AI drug discovery companies that begin with chemistry and computational prediction, Sightera starts with patient biology first. Its AI models are trained using proprietary, clinically correlated drug-response datasets built from therapy-resistant patients, heavily pre-treated tumour samples, patient-derived organoids and robotic high-throughput drug screening.
By learning how real patient cells respond to treatment before designing new molecules, the company aims to develop more effective therapies with a higher chance of success in clinical development.
Company’s Current Pipeline and Long-Term Vision
Sightera Biosciences is advancing a growing pipeline of AI-designed therapies across cancer and fibrotic diseases. Its lead programmes include SIGHT001, which targets gastrointestinal solid tumours using molecular glue technology, SIGHT002 for HER2-positive oesophageal and gastric cancers, and SIGHT101, which focuses on fibrotic diseases.
Alongside these programmes, the company is also developing a platform for next-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) payloads.
Rather than creating incremental improvements to existing drugs, Sightera aims to discover first-in-class small molecules that can address diseases with limited treatment options. The company’s platform is built on nearly a decade of translational research completed before its commercial spin-out, providing a strong scientific foundation for developing new precision medicines.
Looking Ahead
Sightera Biosciences is quickly establishing itself as one of Europe’s emerging AI biotech startups. Its patient-first approach to AI drug discovery offers a clear point of difference in an increasingly competitive market, with the platform built around real patient biology rather than conventional datasets.
With the new pre-seed funding, the company is well positioned to further develop its AI platform, advance its therapeutic pipeline and move its lead programmes closer to clinical development. As Sightera continues to expand its research and technology, its long-term goal remains the same: to improve how new medicines are discovered for patients living with difficult-to-treat diseases.
