• NeoPhore

  Participated · Series B · Feb 2024

  Neophore develops small-molecule drugs that target novel proteins across the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) pathway to generate immuno-oncology therapeutics. Its MMR inhibitors induce neoantigen expression and increase immunogenicity in solid tumours, making them more sensitive to immunotherapy. The company is building a pipeline of small molecules aimed at improving clinical outcomes for cancer patients. Neophore plans to use the recent funding to explore novel biology associated with the MMR pathway, progress its pre-clinical studies, and deliver a candidate drug in 2025. The company is led by CEO Dr Matthew Baker. Neophore was spun out of the University of Turin and PhoreMost Ltd by the CRT Pioneer Fund and is based in Cambridge, UK. NeoPhore is focused on discovering and developing novel small molecule therapies to treat cancer by stimulating the immune system. Its approach targets the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) pathway to promote neoantigen generation and subsequent immunity against tumors. The company was spun out of the University of Turin and PhoreMost Ltd by the CRT Pioneer Fund and is led by CEO Dr Matthew Baker. NeoPhore raised an additional £9.6M in a Series B extension, bringing the Series B total to £31.1M. The company intends to use the funds to further advance its drug discovery pipeline and deliver a candidate drug for its lead PMS2 program by early 2025. Research collaborations with academic institutions remain in place to support its development plans. NeoPhore develops novel small-molecule therapies to treat cancer by stimulating the immune system. Its lead approach targets the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) pathway to promote neoantigen creation and enhance tumour immunogenicity. The company is advancing an expanding pipeline across multiple biological targets and modalities with plans to reach IND-enabling studies in 2024. NeoPhore has research collaborations with St George’s, University of London and a three-year agreement with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to validate its proprietary MMR inhibitor compounds. In January 2022 the company achieved all investment-related scientific milestones significantly ahead of schedule. The recent financing will be used to progress the pipeline toward clinical enabling studies. NeoPhore focuses on the discovery and development of novel, first-in-class small molecule drugs that inhibit the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) pathway to promote neoantigen creation and anti-tumour immunity. The company leverages scientific findings from the University of Turin and works closely with its scientific founder Dr Alberto Bardelli and advisor Dr Luis Diaz. NeoPhore was spun out of the University of Turin and PhoreMost Ltd by the CRT Pioneer Fund. Leadership includes Dr Robert James (Chairman) and Dr Matthew Baker (Chief Executive Officer). The company intends to use its latest financing to advance its drug discovery pipeline. Its core product strategy is to generate next-generation immuno-oncology therapeutics to improve clinical outcomes for cancer patients. NeoPhore Ltd is a spin-out of PhoreMost Ltd focused on discovering and developing novel small-molecule therapies to treat cancer by stimulating the immune system. Its approach targets genetic mechanisms to directly stimulate neoantigen creation and increase antigen diversity across multiple cancers. NeoPhore aims to boost cancer immunity in patients with immunologically “cold” tumors and to improve responses in patients already eligible for cancer immunotherapy. The company uses insights from clinical and laboratory studies that suggest these genetic mechanisms will promote neoantigen creation and diversity. NeoPhore plans to use proceeds from a recent £3m financing to advance discoveries already made by PhoreMost and its collaborators.

• Leucid Bio

  Participated · Series A · Oct 2021

  Leucid Bio develops CAR-T cell therapies aimed at refractory cancers, with a focus on solid tumours. Its lead candidate, LEU-011, is an NKG2D CAR-T therapy in pre-clinical development for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and has potential across multiple cancer types because NKG2D ligands are expressed on more than 80% of human tumour cells. The company intends to use the Series A funds to initiate a Phase 1 trial of LEU-011. Leucid was founded to translate 20 years of CAR-T research led by Dr John Maher at King’s College London; Dr Maher serves as CSO and Artin Moussavi as CEO. The company has developed a proprietary engine that configures CAR-T molecules in a more natural biological arrangement. Early development work was supported by the NIHR Guy’s and St Thomas’ Biomedical Research Centre. The firm is based in London, UK.

No current team members are available.