Spirea develops a differentiated platform for antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) that enables higher drug-to-antibody ratios to deliver more cytotoxic payload to cancer cells. The technology supports stable, tailored ADCs with a variety of payloads, potencies and modes of action, which the company says can improve efficacy and safety versus many existing ADC programmes. Spirea plans to use the new funding to initiate its pipeline of ADCs targeting solid tumours with high unmet need. The company secured £2.4 million (~$3M) in funding from high-profile UK and US investors to advance those programmes. Spirea is a spin-out from the University of Cambridge and is supported by prominent life‑science board members and backers. The firm has previously received investment from IP Group, Cambridge Enterprise, Start Codon, Jonathan Milner, o2h Ventures and Syndicate Room. Spirea has developed an ADC platform that enables high drug-to-antibody ratios and design flexibility to improve ADC efficacy and safety. The technology allows more payload to be loaded while maintaining stability, and supports customised payload potencies and novel modes of action. The company has achieved successful in vivo validation of the platform in proof-of-concept studies using a cancer xenograft model. Recent funding from o2h Ventures and Syndicate Room will be used to advance Spirea’s ADC therapeutic programmes ahead of a significant Seed financing anticipated in 2021. Spirea has previously received investment from Jonathan Milner, Start Codon, Innovate UK, IP Group and Cambridge Enterprise. The company is supported by life-sciences executives on its board, including Jane Dancer, Gaynor Fryers and Christine Martin, and benefits from accelerator support at Start Codon and the Cambridge Judge Business School Entrepreneurship Centre.

Total raised

$3M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Jun 2022