GPCRs! The UK-based biotech hub M:M Bio has launched its third venture, ThirtyFiveBio, a small molecule company targeting G protein-coupled receptor 35, a genetically confirmed target. And they are not alone: Canaan Partners has joined the challenge. The firm just raised a $850 biotech fund, but we will discuss that next week, as there is more to it than just a juicy number. If you are curious, the two other ventures are Pathios Therapeutics (small molecules targeting GPR65, another genetically-validated innate immune checkpoint) and Grey Wolf Therapeutics (small molecules inhibiting the endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidases ERAP1/2 to exploit neoantigen creation). More on what Grey Wolf Therapeutics is up to in this week’s Science News section, which is packed with very good science this week. Due to the recent changes in regulation, I have opened a new section, right after Investment Funds and Accelerators, rather eloquently named Public Policy and Regulation. The UK could become a preferred location for clinical trials, especially for innovative medicines, especially after the recent implementation of Clinical Trial Regulation in the European Union which in comparison seems slow.

Talking about investment funds, funding is —slowly— coming back: all this money is not just going to follow on rounds. In other words, this is not 2015. Sofinnova Partners has launched a $162 million fund focused on digital medicine, DSW Ventures is launching a fund for Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) to at supporting regional startup, Playfair has closed a $70 million pre-seed fund, and SR One has raised £489 million biotech fund. Friends, give it up for Prof Christine Holt (University of Cambridge), who has been awarded the most prestigious award in neurological sciences, the Brain Prize 2023, to Sir Patrick Vallance who is stepping down from the Government Chief Scientific Adviser post, and to Prof Dame Angela McLean who is taking up the challenge. Very long edition of Cambridge Biocapital was it cover for the last two weeks, so take your time. Interesting readings features a great piece by the law firm Taylor Wessing on the Oxford University Innovation vs Oxford Nanoimaging patent dispute, and a fascinating review from the Jason Chin’s Lab at the MRC-LMB on reprogramming the genetic code. Music by John Eliot Gardiner and the English Baroque Soloists (I leave you with the tough job of guessing the piece) and arts from Gainsborough to Hockney at the Wallace Collection. Let’s dive in!

Oxford-based ThirtyFiveBio has emerged from stealth and has raised $20 million seed financing. The startup was launched by M:M Bio in 2021 and jointly incubated by Canaan Partners. The company's focus is developing first-in-class small molecule inhibitors of G protein-coupled receptor 35 (GPR35) for the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, including digestive tract cancers. GPR35's role in GI diseases is genetically confirmed, and it is currently being targeted by drug developers. Until now, efforts have been focused on increasing its activity with targeted agonists. However, recent findings suggest that GPR35 antagonists may be a better therapeutic route. The company reports it will present its latest results at the AACR 2023 regarding the discovery of GPR35 inhibitors preventing tumour growth in a patient-derived cancer model. The startup is led by James Westcott, PhD (CEO) and Tom McCarthy, PhD, chairman of M:M Bio and Executive Chair of ThirtyFiveBio.

London-based BioCorteX has raised $5 million seed funding. The investment was led by Sofinnova Partners and Hoxton Ventures. BioCorteX is developing novel in-silico simulations to improve drug development and trial success rates. The startup's Carbon Mirror platform combines physics, chemistry, and computational techniques to understand drug-bacteria interactions The funds will be used to further develop the platform, which can improve clinical trial design and decision-making in people with diseases. The company is led by Dr Nik Sharma (CEO). In addition, Edward Kliphuis (Partner at Sofinnova Partners) and Hussein Kanji (Partner at Hoxton Ventures) have joined the Board of Directors.

Cambridge-based PocDoc has raised an additional £2.5 million seed round. The funding was led by existing investors Forward Partners and MMC Ventures and participated by Simplyhealth Ventures and other angel investors such as the founders of Graze and Skin + Me and the owners of McLaren and TAG Heuer.). The extended seed round has taken total investment to £5 million. In addition, the startup has appointed Keith Gibbs as Chair (ex-Axa Healthcare CEO). PocDoc uses proprietary lateral flow tests and cloud-based AI diagnostics for the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, which affects 7.6 million people in the UK alone. The company has recently been awarded two NHS contracts to increase access to cholesterol testing outside of GP surgeries.

London-based Concr has raised a £1.22 million seed round. The investment was co-led by Cambridge Enterprise and the existing investor R42 Group, and participated by new investors SyndicateRoom and Jo Pisani from Cambridge Angels. This seed round follows a prior £500,000 funding in 2021. The startup is developing FarrSight, a biomarker prediction engine. Concr uses astrophysics methods to interlink oncology data and identify biomarkers of drug response, with minimal data requirements. The biomarker predictions de-risk pivotal clinical trials and improve patient outcomes. The company reports FarrSight can integrate diverse and incomplete datasets to identify and develop biomarkers with 300x less pre-clinical and 7x less clinical data. The funding will be used to enhance Concr’s scientific and product development and grow its portfolio of pharmaceutical partnerships. Concr was founded by Matt Foster (CEO, biomedical engineer), Dr Matthew Griffiths (computational physicist ), and Dr Uzma Asghar (medical oncologist).

Cambridge-based William Oak Diagnostics has launched operations. The startup is focused on eliminating the micronutrient deficiencies in infants, which can lead to anaemia, increased infection risk, impaired growth, and vision problems. The diagnostic currently requires a relatively large volume of blood to be sent to a central lab. William Oak Diagnostics has developed a point-of-care test with an integrated low-volume blood-collection system. In addition, its at-home technology allows for real-time data collection and diverse populations tracking. The company is led by Alexander Patto (CEO) and Tim Dwyer (CTO). The startup was named a finalist in the 2021 Cambridge Chris Abell Business Plan Competition.

London-based Permia Sensing has secured £250,000 pre-seed funding. The investment was raised from Jenson Funding Partners. The startup was span out from the Imperial College London and is led by Efrem de Paiva (CEO). The agri-tech startup is developing precision farming techniques to transform palm plantation farming practices and reduce unsustainable practices. The company has developed an acoustic sensor that uses AI and robotics to detect pests and monitor tree health for nutrient and irrigation levels. The sensor data is used alongside Permia Sensing's AI-powered platform to analyse tree-level data and suggest ways to improve yields. Permia Sensing helps incentivise sustainable palm farming practices, increasing yields using less land, and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Currently, the company is piloting its solutions in corporate plantations in Sri Lanka.

London-based Harvest London has raised investment from Foresight (details undisclosed). In addition, the startup has secured a 140,000 sq ft site in South London (Beddington), where it will develop its new 15-metre-tall farm. Harvest London has already built two farms and grown over 100 different crops using hydroponic vertical farming techniques in partnership with brands including Pizza Pilgrims and Compass Group. The indoor vertical farming approach delivers crops all year round of a consistently high quality, using no chemical pesticides, significantly reducing the amount of fertiliser needed, avoiding agricultural pollution of rivers, and dramatically shortening supply chains. Vertical farms are controlled environments that help to reduce negative environmental impacts while improving productivity per square metre compared to traditional agriculture, strengthening food security of the UK. The funding will allow Harvest London to expand its network of data-driven vertical farms and expand the team.

Oxford-based SpyBiotech has received a $4 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop its SpyVector vaccine platform. SpyVector allows for efficient decoration of the surface of the adenovirus with pathogen antigens, increasing the quantity of antibodies induced by decorating the adenovirus with the antigen while maintaining the T cell response to the encoded antigen. The project will use SpyBio’s plug and display technology to design a broadly cross-protective coronavirus vaccine. SpyBio is also advancing its lead candidate, a vaccine targeting human cytomegalovirus, into the clinic later this year. SpyBio is a biotech company with a novel vaccine platform technology to target infectious diseases, cancer, and chronic diseases. The startup was spun out of the University of Oxford in 2017 and has raised $39 million to date. SpyBio’s novel vaccine platform is based on a proprietary protein “superglue” technology which binds antigens to vaccine delivery platforms in a way which minimises delivery risk and enhances immunogenicity and efficacy.

Cambridge-based SMi has been awarded two Innovate UK awards to develop its technology for testing respiratory diseases and detecting cancer. The startup’s platform uses super-resolution imaging to detect, quantify and characterise single molecules associated with specific diseases including DNA, RNA, and protein molecules. The first award funded the development of their platform for common respiratory diseases while the second award has funded the application of their platform to cancer diagnosis. The technology can provide clinicians with unprecedented quality of data and could reduce diagnostic backlogs. SMi's aim is to create a user-friendly, automated bench-top instrument that can be used in both research and healthcare settings.

Manchester-based QV Bioelectronics has been awarded £860K in grant funding from Innovate UK for its electric field therapy implant, GRACE. The implant aims to target dividing cancer cells in the brain without harming healthy cells, starting with glioblastoma, one of the deadliest primary brain tumours. The funding will be used to conduct pre-clinical developments involving engagement with clinical opinion leaders and accelerating commercial development in key markets.

The UK Government has allocated the first tranche of the £277 million Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund. The funding comes from the joint initiative between government and industry to fuel growth and innovation and will support more than 500 jobs at companies across the UK, from North Wales to Northern Ireland. The announcement followed on from the Medicines and Diagnostics Manufacturing Transformation Fund pilot programme and the additional £10 million for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to accelerate NHS patient access to the most impactful new treatments. The two funds have delivered £352 million in government and private sector investment into the life sciences sector. Ipsen has received £75 million investment to grow the manufacture of medicines for neurological conditions; Pharmaron has secured £151 million investment to grow operations in Liverpool and increase production capacity four-fold for critical gene therapy and vaccine components; Touchlight has been awarded £14 million funding to establishing its commercial scale manufacture of DNA; and Randox has received £36 million to modernise antibody manufacturing for a range of diagnostic tests.

BSF Enterprise plc (LSE: BSFA) has raised £2.9 million through an oversubscribed placing and subscription of new shares. The funds will be used to support the growth of its subsidiary, 3D Bio Tissues, which is engaged in developing its patent-protected City-Mix technology for a variety of high growth markets ranging from producing human corneas to produce the UK's first high quality lab-grown meat from its laboratory in Newcastle the next 12 months. The Placing Shares and the Subscription Shares will be admitted for trading on the Main Market.

Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr Victor Dahdaleh has donated £16 million to the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute (HLRI) in Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The HLRI aims to identify 10 new potential treatments or diagnostic tests for heart and lung diseases within five years. The HLRI has already raised £30 million from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund and £10 million from the British Heart Foundation, with additional funding from the Wolfson Foundation, Royal Papworth Hospital Charity and the University of Cambridge. Additional support has been provided by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust for a Cystic Fibrosis Trust Innovation Hub within the institute. The institute brings together population health, laboratory and clinical scientists, with NHS clinicians and patients, with the aim of improving outcomes for people with cardiovascular and lung diseases such as heart attacks, pulmonary hypertension, lung cancers, cystic fibrosis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Sofinnova Partners has launched a $162 million fund focused on digital medicine. The move follows a minority equity investment by Apollo Global Management last May, which committed to invest €1 billion in Sofinnova’s investment funds last May. Under the new strategy, Sofinnova has led investments in three Europe-based companies in the digital medicine sector, including the London-based BioCorteX. The fund will be focused in Europe/UK but will also eye the global market.

Manchester-based DSW Ventures is launching a fund for Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) to at supporting regional startups. The fund aims to raise £2 million, with over £230,000 coming from the personal investments of Dow Schofield Watts partners and associates. It plans to invest £1 million a year in early-stage technology businesses and university spin-outs outside of the London-Oxbridge golden triangle. The launch of the new fund follows changes to tax rules in April 2023 that increase the amount of SEIS funding companies can receive from £150,000 to £250,000 and enable firms up to three years old to qualify. DSW was established in 2019 and has so far invested in 11 businesses, providing £12.5 million funding.

Emblem has raised $54 million fund with plans to raise up to $80 million by the end of the year. The fund, founded by Bénédicte de Raphélis Soissan and Guillaume Durao, will focus on seed investments between €500,000 and €3 million in France, Denmark, and Sweden, but also eying other European markets Emblem's backers include the Danish sovereign fund Vaekstfonden, institutional investors like Edenred, and tech entrepreneurs. The firm plans to invest in 25 to 30 tech companies with its initial fund and will not invest in Series A rounds or later.

London-based Playfair has closed a $70 million pre-seed fund, bringing its total raised to $140 million. The firm invests approximately £750,000 in health tech startups, SaaS, AI, and marketplace startups, and only invests in up to eight new companies annually in the UK and Europe. Playfair has invested in over 70 companies from its first two funds, and has already backed Spotted Zebra, Kuai Commerce, and Trezy from its third fund.

London-based SR One has closed a £489 million biotech fund to invest in early-stage biotech startups developing new medicines. The fund will have international outreach with the UK being a key market. The funding was raised from family offices, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds, among others. Past investments include Oxford spinout MiroBio (acquired by Gilead Sciences for £334 million). SR One is a spinout from the British pharma GSK.

The West Midlands Combined Authority and West Midlands Pension Fund have launched a £25 million fund for high-growth SMEs. The fund will focus on green technology, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, creative, and digital industries. Private investors will match the £25 million on a “deal-by-deal basis”, potentially increasing the funding pool to £50m. The fund will be managed by Midven, which will issue equity investments of up to £1 million over 10 years. The West Midlands was the fastest growing region outside London in the decade leading up to the pandemic, and the region has a thriving tech sector worth £15 billion.

Private equity firm Maven reports to have invested £70 million in businesses in the North West of England through its Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, creating 1,300 jobs. The £106 million Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund invests £50,000 to £2 million in North West of England-based tech, digital, life sciences and healthcare companies.

British Patient Capital has invested £30 million into Northern Gritstone Limited. British Patient Capital joins existing investors including M&G, Greater Manchester Pension Fund, and other institutional investors expected to follow later in the year. Northern Gritstone is an investment company focused on university spinouts across the North of England. 11% of British Patient Capital-backed companies are university spinouts compared to just 2% of all equity-backed startups.

Scottish Widows has launched four new green investment funds totalling £1.4 billion. The funds will be used to target companies that are developing solutions for biodiversity preservation and sustainable energy and transport. Companies must attribute at least 50% of their revenue to green products and 20% of expenditure to grow circular economy. The insurer's Global Environmental Solutions fund will be managed by Schroders. Blackrock and Abrdrn will manage the other green investment funds.

The Novo Holdings REPAIR Impact Fund has invested close to half of its committed capital after 5 years of operation. Two out of ten projects have shown clinical proof of concept. The Fund will now focus on supporting its existing portfolio and closing two final investments from its 2022 call for proposals. The fund invests in companies working on the discovery and early-stage development of therapies targeting resistant microorganisms. Its primary goal is to advance innovative anti-infective programs through phase 1 clinical proof of concept studies.

EQT Life Sciences has closed its 260 million LSP Dementia Fund. Investors include the Alzheimer’s Association, the European Investment Fund, global pharmaceutical companies, and insurance companies. The LSP Dementia Fund aims to bring new treatments to patients suffering from Dementia, one of the greatest healthcare challenges of our time. The Fund is Led by Prof Philip Scheltens, MD, PhD, professor emeritus at Amsterdam University Medical Center. LSP Dementia fund has invested in five companies so far, and intends to invest in 10 to 15 companies in total.

Leicester-based Catapult Ventures Group has become an Innovate UK Investor Partner. Catapult Ventures is an independent Fund Manager whose owners have operated investment funds on behalf of a range of public and private sector investors totalling c. £130 million. The Innovate UK Investor Partnership Programme includes 54 selected Partners. It aims to tackle the challenges faced by high-growth UK startups working on Net Zero, Health & Wellbeing, Next-Generation Digital Technologies.

Applications for Cancer Research UK’s pre-accelerator program Lean Launch are now open. It is a 10-week online course for UK postdocs and late-stage PhD students to learn the principles for applying the scientific method to business ideas in oncology research. The program includes a 2-day Bootcamp, 10-week market validation with weekly 1-hour coaching from experts, a 1-day online pitch training for customers and investors. In terms of funding, the program can provide up to £4,000 for market validation and a pathway to £25,000 of ICURe funding, and follow-on support.

Belfast-based Kainos has teamed up with Innovate UK to launch the Kainos DigiHealth Lean Launch Programme, a 10-week initiative that provides funding and guidance to start-ups with digital health innovation ideas. The Lean Launch Programme is part of a wider programme pathway for Innovate UK aimed at commercialising research for University Teams and Public Sector Research Enterprises. The “Innovation-to-Commercialisation of University Research” (ICURe) programme is an early-stage research accelerator programme that guides academic researchers through the process of refining and validating the commercial potential their research.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has announced changes to clinical trial approval and conduct in the UK. The goal is to make the UK a preferred option for sponsors conducting clinical trials. A 10-day deadline will be given to the MHRA to issue a decision following a maximum 30-day review period. A reduction of 40 days from application to the recruitment of the first patient has been reported. The framework will incorporate flexibility to enable a proportionate review based on risk. The changes will also introduce a legal mandate to register the trial in a World Health Organisation (WHO) public register, and a requirement to publish a summary of results within 12 months of the end of the trial.

The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act has passed into law in England, allowing farmers to grow crops that are drought and disease resistant, reduce the use of fertilisers and pesticides, and breed animals that are protected from diseases. The act covers precision-bred plants and animals developed through techniques such as gene editing, enabling scientists to create foods that are more flexible, adaptable, and plentiful for years to come. A new regulatory system will be introduced to facilitate research and innovation in precision breeding, with stricter regulations remaining in place for genetically modified organisms (GMOs). England joins countries such as Argentina, the US, Australia and Japan that have already enacted similar legislation.

The European Union Council has agreed to extend the transitional period for the Medical Device Regulation (MDR), giving notified bodies and manufacturers more time to certify medical devices and mitigate the risk of device shortages. The extension provides longer transition periods for different classes of devices, and removes the 'sell off provision' for both the MDR and IVDR.

A new study commissioned by the former UK Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, has been published by Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy. The report maps and characterises the UK non-human health life science sector. The report highlights the opportunity for the UK to establish technological leadership and capture economic and societal value from modern industrial biotechnology. Modern industrial biotechnology firms in the UK account for a total turnover of £4.7 billion. There are several broad areas in which the UK may have strengths and may be able to develop competitive advantage, including agri-tech, food, commercial genomics for well-being, animal health, and underpinning technologies and platforms.

London-based CHARM Therapeutics has announced a strategic discovery collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb(NYSE: BMY) for the discovery of new medicines. CHARM will leverage its proprietary deep learning platform, DragonFold, to identify compounds against targets of interest via through protein-ligand co-folding. CHARM is responsible for the early discovery of compounds, and Bristol Myers Squibb may license and develop compounds from the collaboration. As part of the agreement, CHARM will receive an upfront payment and investment in the company, along with additional payments if Bristol Myers Squibb exercises its option to any of the program compounds. CHARM is a 3D deep learning research company with a focus on cancer and other diseases. The company has raised $50 million to date and is supported by investors such as OrbiMed and Khosla Ventures.

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has become the first UK hospital to use the CMR Surgical’s Versius Surgical Robotic System in thoracic procedures. The system allows for precision and accuracy in the chest cavity through small incisions between the ribs, and is specifically designed for thoracic surgery. The small and modular design of the system also allows for optimal access through the rib cage. The first cases with Versius at Royal Papworth are scheduled for spring 2023.

London-based RQ Bio and Vancouver-headquartered AbCellera (NASDAQ: ABCL) have entered a strategic collaboration to develop new therapies for up to three infectious diseases, including influenza and cytomegalovirus. By combining RQ Bio's expertise with AbCellera's discovery engine, the partnership aims to provide lasting protection for at-risk patients. Under the agreement, RQ Bio has the right to develop and commercialise the resulting therapeutic antibodies. AbCellera will receive research payments and is eligible for milestone payments and royalties on net sales of products.

Edinburgh-based Macomics and Osaka-based Ono Pharmaceutical have partnered to develop new immuno-oncology antibody drugs against a novel macrophage target in cancer. Macomics will identify and characterise antibody candidates using its ENIGMACTM macrophage drug discovery platform, and Ono will have an exclusive option to license global rights to the candidates for further development and commercialisation. Macomics will receive an up-front payment, R&D funding, and milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties based on global net sales. Macrophages are often the most abundant immune cell in many types of cancer, and modulating TAMs can enhance the body's ability to fight cancer.

Nottingham-based Agility Life Sciences and Barcelona-based Solitek - Solid Technologies SL have formed a strategic partnership to accelerate their clients' pharmaceutical development milestones. The partnership includes the promotion of each other's services, providing training, technical support, and client liaison. This mutually beneficial partnership will strengthen both companies' client base.

London-based Complement Therapeutics (CTx) and Liverpool-based Pharmaron have partnered to develop and manufacture CTx001, a gene therapy for the treatment of late dry age-related macular degeneration (Geographic Atrophy, GA). CTx001 is currently in pre-clinical development as an Adeno Associated Virus (AAV) based gene therapy. Pharmaron's facilities and expertise will help deliver clinical-grade drug products for first-in-human clinical trials set to commence in H2 2024. The partnership aims to bring CTx001 through clinical proof of concept .

Oxford-based Grey Wolf Therapeutics has dosed the first patient in the initial monotherapy module of an adaptive Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating GRWD5769. GRWD5769 is the company’s investigational first-in-class ERAP1 inhibitor. The trial is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, preliminary efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of GRWD5769 alone and in combination with Regeneron’s PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo in patients with advanced solid tumors. The company’s therapeutic strategy (targeted cancer neoantigen creation) is focused on inhibiting the endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidases (ERAP1 or ERAP2), which play a key role in the antigen presentation pathway. The inhibition results in the mobilisation of an entirely novel T cell response against the tumor that increases tumor visibility where current therapies are ineffective.

The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s Stem Cell Bank is testing a new robot that grows stem cells, called the CellQualiaTM Intelligent Cell Processing System. Due to manufacturing challenges, stem cell-based therapeutics are limited in availability. The CellQualiaTM system being tested at the MHRA has the potential to change this. It is being trialled over a 12-month period to see whether the cells produced by the fully automated Intelligent Cell Processing System meet the standards needed for them to be used in the manufacture of potentially life-saving treatments. The trial is part of a UK-based international research programme, launched in 2021, and a partnership between the MHRA, SAKARTA, and Sinfonia Technology Co. Ltd, supported by Kobe-based Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation.

London-based LIfT BioSciences has released pre-clinical data showing that its Immunomodulatory Alpha Neutrophil product (IMANp). Results exhibit both cytotoxic and immunomodulatory functionalities in solid tumour microenvironment. IMANp can recruit and activate the patient's immune system to infiltrate the tumor micro-environment and turn it hot. It can also be used in combination with other therapies where efficacy is limited due to the absence of effector cells in the tumor micro-environment. The company plans to move into clinical trials next year after generating successful functional proof of concept data for iPSC-derived and gene engineered IMANp products.

Genomics England has made significant progress in long-read sequencing, which can spot structural changes in the genome more easily. Researchers have analysed over 100 whole genome sequences using novel Oxford Nanoporesequencing technology, and have proven the concept of building an analytical pipeline for long-read sequencing. This technology will be used alongside existing short-read sequencing to support clinical decisions.

Oxford AHSN has partnered with Caristo Diagnostics on a feasibility study into the CaRi-Heart technology. CaRi-Heart is an AI platform that predicts cardiovascular risk in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). It uses medical imaging analysis software that measures the perivascular fat attenuation index (FAI) and clinical factors to generate an eight-year cardiac risk estimate. This technology can detect coronary inflammation before artery narrowing has developed, years before a heart attack may occur. The Oxford AHSN conducted a feasibility study on this technology, which evaluated its utility in the NHS care pathway for chest pain management. The technology is undergoing further studies to gain regulatory approval and for adoption by the NHS.

Oxford-based Brainomix has received FDA clearance for its Brainomix360 e-ASPECTS tool for stroke. The AI-powered platform provides real-time interpretation of brain scans to guide treatment decisions. The Brainomix 360 platform uses state-of-the-art AI algorithms to assess non-contrast CT scans and automatically generate an ASPECTS score. The score is used to determine the best course of treatment for stroke patients. Recent studies have shown that Brainomix software reduces door-in-door-out times and improves patient outcomes. The technology will now be introduced to stroke centers across the US with support from Brainomix's established field team and Blackford, a pioneering imaging AI platform and solutions provider.

Wales-based Copner Biotech announces the granting of its first patent, GB2605009B, a 3D printing method that manufactures its cell scaffold product. This patent protects the novel way in which cell scaffolds are constructed by 3D printing, providing a suitable structure for cell growth that mimics in vivo tumour growth. Copner Biotech has several other patents pending.

Cambridge-based PhoreMost and Oxford Drug Design have entered a collaboration agreement on a targeted protein degradation discovery programme for novel cancer therapeutics. The project uses Oxford Drug Design's AI computational platform and PhoreMost's next-generation SITESEEKER phenotypic screening platform and PROTEINi libraries. The goal is to identify and develop new compounds for onward optimisation.

Cambridge-based Minogame has released its ScanXm version 1.0.3. Minogame provides biomedical image analysis software. It now runs supports all modern GPUs, and includes new AI tools for automatic segmentation and identification of vertebrae in CT scans.

Oxford-baed Arctoris has partnered with Synthego to offer researchers a faster and more seamless workflow from CRISPR edit to phenotypic data. The partnership combines expertise in automated CRISPR cell line engineering with Arctoris's automated and machine learning-empowered drug discovery platform to accelerate and scale research.

London-based Pangaea Data has published the capabilities of their AI-driven product in the British Medical Journal Health & Care Informatics. The product can predict ICU length-of-stay and risk of mortality with 85% precision. The company has discovered 22x more undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, and miscoded patients, and halved treatment costs. Pangaea is founded by Dr Vibhor Gupta and Prof Yike Guo, and advised by Lord David Prior, Mr Andy Palmer, and Dr Thomas Dyrberg.

Bellshill-based EnteroBiotix has commenced a Phase 2 clinical trial named 'IMPuLCE' to assess EBX-102 for treating liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. EBX-102 is delivered orally and contains diverse full-spectrum microbial ecosystems to restore microbial ecology and target multiple key disease pathways. The trial involves 56 patients with liver cirrhosis across the UK and will evaluate EBX-102 in patients with cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy (mortality rate of up to 40% of affected patients) being treated with standard of care medications, including Rifaximin. The trial is an important milestone for EnteroBiotix as it advances a new class of full-spectrum microbiome drug through the clinic.

Cardiff-based CatSci has unveiled its oligonucleotides capability. It will be led by Dr Nigel Richardson (Director, New Modalities). CAtSci has over 40 years of oligonucleotide research, development and manufacturing. The company provides enabling technologies and work with preferred partners to create affordable, best-in-class small molecule therapeutics. CatSci has recently received several awards for their work, including the Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2022.

Nottingham-based Source Genomics has become the first UK-based provider to offer Olink Proteomics services for proteomics and high-throughput biomarker discovery.

Cambridge-based Isogenica and the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research have announced the start of two more projects as part of their contractual relationship. The aim of the multi-project contract is to develop molecules that can be used in clinical laboratory assays to measure biomarkers correlated with the effectiveness of cancer immuno-oncology agents. To that purpose, Isogenica will develop and optimise VHH and antibody candidates.

Birmingham-based Nonacus has launched a non-invasive test called GALEAS Bladder, aiming to detect bladder cancer. The urine-based test provides a highly sensitive and accurate diagnosis, reducing the need for invasive cystoscopies. The test has been developed in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, the test has been validated in over 600 patient samples from 3 UK clinical cohorts. The technology used in GALEAS Bladder offers the potential to reduce the reliance on invasive cystoscopies and expensive imaging for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer surveillance, as well as hematuria triage.

Manchester-based Monument Therapeutics has announced positive results from its first-in-human Phase I study of MT1980, a novel potential treatment for neuroinflammation. The drug was found in the cerebrospinal fluid of all volunteers, indicating its presence in the brain for each dose level of MT1980. The unique absorption profile of MT1980, achieved using technology developed by TRx Biosciences and exclusively licensed to Monument Tx, resolves blood-brain-barrier penetration limitations that exist with standard on-market formulations of the compound. The company plans a further Phase I clinical study to provide additional safety and pharmacokinetic data following multiple dosing of MT1980, in addition to evidence of an anti-inflammatory effect in the brain.

UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge has developed a way to increase levels of the 'cold shock protein' in the brains of mice, protecting them from prion disease. The protein helps protect the brain from damage and allows it to continue to form new connections. The researchers tested antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to increase levels of the cold shock protein in the brains of mice – and hence protect them. A single injection with the ASO was sufficient to provide long-lasting protection for these mice, preventing neurodegeneration progression. The work was led by Prof Giovanna Mallucci and funded by Freie Universität Berlin, the Medical Research Council, Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Cambridge-based Aila Biotech has signed a patent portfolio option with Babraham Institute to develop a gene delivery treatment for patients with traumatic brain injury and neuroinflammation. Traumatic brain injury can lead to dementia and cognitive disability, but few treatments are available to prevent inflammation in the brain. Pioneering research by Prof Adrian Liston and Dr Mathew Holt enables the delivery of a protein known as interleukin 2 at sites of brain inflammation to stop inflammation and initiate repair. The treatment was protective in mouse models of neuroinflammation, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and cognitive decline with age. Aila Biotech is pursuing venture capital to raise funding for a clinical trial.

Oxford-based Oxford Vacmedix has completed the first part of Phase I trial of OVM-200, its lead cancer vaccine. OVM-200 is a cancer vaccine developed using OVM’s novel recombinant overlapping peptide (ROP) platform, which targets survivin, a protein overexpressed by certain cancer cells. The Phase I trial of OVM-200 is focused on safety and on establishing an immune response in patients with three tumour types – non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), prostate cancer, and ovarian cancer. Twelve patients have been treated in Phase 1a, and a further 24 patients will be treated in Phase 1b. Oxford Vacmedix is currently seeking Series B funding to advance OVM-200 to Phase 2 and OVM-100 into Phase 1 trials.

Professor Christine Holt (University of Cambridge) is one of three recipients of The Brain Prize 2023, the world's largest award for neuroscience. The award recognises the scientists' work in unveiling the cellular and molecular mechanisms that enable the brain to develop, restructure itself in response to external stimuli, and recover from injury. Holt's work revealed how each neuron navigates a remarkable journey to its specific target in the brain, and proteins are continuously made in our axons every day. This knowledge is essential for developing clinical therapies in nerve repair. The prize is awarded annually by the Danish Lundbeck Foundation and includes approximately €1.3 million to be shared by the three recipients.

Cancer Research UK has appointed Lord Simon Stevens as the new Chair of Council of Trustees, effective October 2023. Lord Stevens has worked in the health sector for more than three decades, most recently serving as the chief executive of NHS England. He will replace Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, who will step down later this year after almost seven years in the role. Cancer Research UK has achieved several key research breakthroughs during Professor Borysiewicz’s time as Chair, including proving that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was cutting cases of cervical cancer by nearly 90%.

Deep Science Ventures has appointed Ahmad Butt as Executive Chairman. Butt is a a serial entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience in finance and deep tech. Most recently he founded, scaled and exited the multi-billion quant hedge fund Jetstone Asset Management. He has invested in more than 60 startups as early stage investor in deep tech, AI and climate companies.

UK Government has appointed Hilary Evans (CEO, Alzheimer’s Research UK) and Nadeem Sarwar (Senior Leader, Eisai) to co-chair the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission. The program is designed to accelerate progress in research into dementia. It will develop innovative research tools and boost the number and speed of clinical trials in dementia and neurodegeneration. It is one of eight Missions in the Government’s Life Sciences Vision and Drugs Strategy. The Dementia Mission will follow the successful approach of the Covid Vaccine Taskforce, and forms part of the commitment to double funding for dementia research to £160 million by 2024 to 2025.

Stevenage-based NRG Therapeutics has announced the formation of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) to support its R&D programmes in developing small molecule therapies for neurodegenerative disorders. The SAB will be chaired by Dr James Summers (advisor to NRG since inception, Vice President of Neuroscience Research at AbbVie). Dr Summers will be joined by Dr Melanie Leitner (CSO for the ALS Investment Fund and founder of Accelerating NeuroVentures), Dr Kalpana Merchant (advisor to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and Professor of Neurology at Northwestern University) and Dr Stevan Djuric (Vice President of the Discovery Chemistry and Technology at AbbVie and Medicinal Chemistry Professor at the University of Kansas). NRG Therapeutics is applying breakthrough science in the field of mitochondrial biology to develop first-in-class treatments for Parkinson’s, ALS and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Cambridge/Tokyo-headquartered Sosei Heptares (TSE: 4565) has announced the election of Eiko Tomita to its Board of Directors as Independent External Director and the promotion of Candelle Chong to Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff. Tomita (Vice President, Global Regulatory Affairs at Bristol Myers Squibb) brings over 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, while Chong (former healthcare investment banking at J.P. Morgan) has a proven track record in strategy implementation and operations across multiple areas.

London-based Duke Street Bio has appointed Dónal Landers, MB BCh BAO, MBA, DPM, FFPM as Chief Medical Officer. Dr Landers has a track record of leading multiple molecules through early oncology clinical development. He has experience in both the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, having worked for start-ups, PricewaterhouseCoopers, AstraZeneca, and his own specialist consulting business, DeLondra Oncology. He was also co-founder and Strategic Director of the Digital Experimental Cancer Medicine Team based at Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute. Duke Street Bio is working to advance its best-in-class PARP1-selective and PARP7 inhibitor programs into the clinic.

London-headquartered Avacta Group (AIM: AVCT) has appointed Karen Harrison as Chief Operating Officer, Therapeutics Division. Harrison (former Vice President for Talent at Astellas Pharma.) has over 30 years of experience managing global organisations and has taken senior positions in the healthcare and life sciences sectors.

Silence Therapeutics has appointed Steven Romano, MD, as Chief Medical Officer and Head of Research and Development. He will take over from Giles Campion, MD, upon his retirement. Dr Romano has served as a non-executive director of the Silence Board since July 2019. He is a psychiatrist with over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including 16 years at Pfizer (Senior Vice President, Head, Global Medicines Development, Global Innovative Pharmaceuticals Business). Silence Therapeutics is developing medicines using RNA interference to inhibit the expression of specific target genes thought to play a role in the pathology of diseases with significant unmet need.

BGF has appointed Helen Bartley to join its direct origination team in Manchester. Bartley has over 20 years of experience in corporate finance and has worked across small, medium and 'Big Four' accountancy practices, as well as in industry. Last year, BGF invested £53 million in the local North West growth economy, completing seven new deals in 2022 and three successful exits.

Ambrose Healthcare has announced Professor Brian Feagan will advise the company on rare disease and hospital drug product development. He is Professor at the Department of Medicine (Division of Gastroenterology), Epidemiology And Biostatistics at the Western University (Ontario, Canada). He will support the company in developing new treatments for rare diseases and unmet clinical needs of patients managed in hospital and specialist care environments.

Savills UK reports an average fully fitted lab premium of 76% across the UK and Europe when compared to the office rental tone. The life science sector is facing build cost inflation, making development of laboratory and specialist manufacturing space complex and expensive. This results in higher rental premiums, driven by higher build costs and a demand and supply imbalance. Investors and developers need to fully understand the cost of delivering this space and the potential absorption risk given the bespoke requirements of target occupiers.

British Land is considering options to scale Science & Technology businesses in the Golden Triangle globally. The firm has recently purchased a retail warehouse adjacent to its B&Q facility in Cambridge, and is open to longer-term life sciences redevelopment. British Land has built up a 7.3m sq ft development pipeline across its campuses and is targeting innovation businesses in the science, technology and health sectors. The company has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Cambridge Biomedical Campus Ltd to be a Partner in Masterplanning at the campus.

Bruntwood SciTech plans to invest over £250 million to redevelop Melbourn Science Park. The masterplan includes refurbishing three existing buildings and constructing six new ones offering coworking, leased, and managed lab and office space for approximately 75 life science and tech businesses, including startup businesses. The park will be 100% electric, with EPC A Ratings across its buildings, and 600 square metres of solar panels installed across the park's roof space. The proposal will also increase the park's biodiversity net gain by up to 30%. The first phase of redevelopment will commence in winter 2023 and reach completion in spring 2026.

New England Biolabs (NEB) has selected Oxford-based Milton Park as its first UK manufacturing hub. The new manufacturing space, redeveloped by Milton Park, will cover 30,000 sq ft of space and will be equipped with a state-of-the-art laboratory, office and manufacturing hub. Once operational, it will enable NEB to broaden its offering of lyophilised reagents, which can be stored and shipped at room temperature, reducing logistical burdens.

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Cambridge-headquartered Bicycle Therapeutics (NASDAQ: BCYC) has announced a collaboration with Novartis(LON: 0K9E) for the development of targeted radio-ligand therapies in oncology. The collaboration will involve the development of Bicycle radio-conjugates (BRCs) for multiple oncology targets. Under the agreement, Novartis will be responsible for the development, manufacture, and commercialisation of the BRCs, with Bicycle receiving a $50 million upfront payment, as well as potential milestones and commercial royalties. Bicycle will utilise its proprietary phage platform to discover Bicycles for the BRCs. The two companies will work together to discover and developing potential new cutting-edge radiopharmaceutical cancer treatments based on Bicycles.

Oxford-headquartered Oxford Nanopore Technologies (LON: ONT)and Switzerland-based 4bases have collaborated to combine nanopore sequencing devices and 4bases kits for rapid and accurate human and cancer genetics analysis. The devices with 4bases kits will allow flexible scalability and a significant decrease in turnaround time for clinical researchers in Italy and Switzerland. The collaboration aims to enable same-day BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene analysis. The $1,000 MinION starter pack with 4bases kits is compatible with Oxford Nanopore's devices, making accurate and affordable sequencing accessible to any laboratory across Italy and Switzerland. The kit targets the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes through PCR and generates short amplicons compatible with Oxford Nanopore's built-in short fragment mode sequencing. The software identifies variants present in these genes to provide a report listing the mutations to the end user.

London-headquartered F-star (part of InvoX Pharma company, a UK-based wholly-owned subsidiary of Sino Biopharmaceutical) has entered into a second license agreement with Takeda for a novel next-generation immuno-oncology bispecific antibody. Under the agreement, Takeda will research, develop and commercialise a bispecific antibody using F-star's proprietary Fcab and mAb2 platforms. F-star will receive an upfront license fee and is eligible for future milestone payments and royalties on annual net sales. F-star has four second-generation immuno-oncology therapeutics in the clinic, each directed against promising IO targets in drug development, including LAG-3 and CD137.

London-headquartered Silence Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SLN) is acquiring back exclusive worldwide rights to two siRNA drug targets in its collaboration agreement with Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals for complement-mediated diseases. Mallinckrodt will not receive any upfront payment, but is eligible for future success-based milestones and low single digit royalties on net sales if the projects advance. Silence will gain rights back to two preclinical complement targets while the C3 targeting program will remain under the collaboration agreement. Silence’s mRNAi GOLD™ platform is expected to generate more clinical data this year in cardiovascular and hematological diseases.

Alderley Park-headquartered Evgen Pharma (AIM: EVG) has announced top line pharmacokinetic data of its placebo-controlled, dose-escalating, randomised Phase I/Ib clinical trial. The study aimed to provide further insight into the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of the new enteric coated (EC) tablet formulation of the Company's lead asset SFX-01, as well as investigating how sulforaphane released from the tablet engages with molecular targets of interest. The study confirmed that sulforaphane was released by the new tablet beyond the acid environment of the stomach, and levels of sulforaphane and its active metabolites in blood increased predictably with increasing dose.

UK’s Med­i­cines and Health­care prod­ucts Reg­u­la­to­ry Agency (MHRA) is review­ing No­vo Nordisk’s market­ing violation that resulted in its loss of UK trade group membership last week. No­vo Nordisk was suspended from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry for two years after breaking its conduct rules. MHRA’s review of the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority investigation is standard practice. The dispute stems back to 2021 and is re­lat­ed to its weight loss drug Sax­en­da. At that time, a UK health pro­fes­sion­al com­plained to the ABPI over third-par­ty LinkedIn posts that linked to a “free weight man­age­ment course.”

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended Upstaza, PTC Therapeutics' gene therapy for children suffering from aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency. AACD deficiency is an ultra-rare genetic disorder affecting the central nervous system. Symptoms include severe motor development issues and limited developmental milestones. Previously, there have been no treatments specifically for this condition. Upstaza (eladocagene exuparvovec) is a single-dose gene therapy that has been developed to correct the underlying genetic defect. It is infused directly into the brain through a minimally invasive procedure, improving motor development and could potentially be life-changing. The therapy was approved in the UK in November 2022 following a **European marketing authorizatio**n on May.

Brighton-headquartered Destiny Pharma (AIM: DEST) has published XF-73 clinical data in the Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology journal. The results shown XF-73 clinical data achieved the primary endpoint of a 99.5% reduction in S. aureus bacterial nasal carriage, with positive results achieved after just 3 doses of XF-73 nasal gel in the 24 hours before the surgical incision. The decolonisation of S. aureus was maintained throughout the perioperative period. XF-73 nasal gel is a potential game changer in the fight to reduce the risk of post-surgical infections from hospital superbugs.

Cambridge-headquartered AstraZeneca (NASDAQ, LON: AZN) plans to build an €800 million R&D centre in Barcelona (Spain) to work on international projects based on oncology, cardiovascular, renal, metabolic, respiratory, and rare diseases, as well as vaccines and immunotherapies. The new centre is expected to create 1,000 jobs in the next five years. AstraZeneca invested over €93 million in different projects in 2021, of which €48 million was assigned to R&D. By 2022, the company's investment in Spain had increased to €400 million, and it had 1,300 employees.

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The debate around university-spinouts has become more popular as it becomes painfully obvious that terms for spinning out academic research tend to be restrict innovation. Taylor Wessing’s Adrian Toutoungi (Partner) and Lauren Mounteney (Trainee Solicitor) have published an excellent piece on the Oxford University Innovation v Oxford Nanoimaging patent dispute. Good reflections on the university-owned IP issue.

A study by Catax found that the UK ranked 50th out of 64 countries, with a 570-day wait for patent action. This is longer than the likes of China, the US, Japan, Korea, India, and Australia, all of which had more patents filed in the year in question. The Intellectual Property Office disputed the findings. This article in UKTech News discusses the matter.

Simply fascinating review from the Jason Chin’s Lab (MRC-LMB) on reprogramming the genetic code.

The US Supreme Court is hearing a case about a patent on antibodies targeting PCSK9 to treat high cholesterol. The decision could affect how broad patents can be and how much they describe the invention. The case could impact drug prices and technology, with potential effects on CRISPR or CAR-T-cell therapies, among others. Amgen is appealing a ruling that struck down one of their key patents on Repatha, which claims not only specific antibodies but also any other antibodies that bind to the same region of the PCSK9 protein. The decision is expected by the end of June.

The University of Oxford has created 300 companies based on research and ideas from students, staff, and alumni. These companies have raised over £6 billion and created over 9,000 jobs. More details on the companies can be read here.

According to London Economics, the University of Cambridge's total impact is estimated to be c. £29.8 billion, including research, knowledge exchange activities, spending of the University and its colleges, educational exports, teaching and learning activities, and tourism. The University supports over 86,000 jobs across the UK and contributes over £13 billion in gross value added. For every £1 spent, it creates £11.70 of economic impact. For every £1 million of publicly funded research income, it generates £12.65 million in economic impact across the UK.