The Venture Codex

Led · Series A · Dec 2022

Jellagen develops Collagen Type 0, a jellyfish-derived collagen biomaterial sourced from Rhizostoma pulmo for use in medical devices and culture applications. The jellyfish-derived material is intended to avoid disease and virus-transfer risks associated with mammalian collagens. The company plans to accelerate medical development of Collagen Type 0 and advance its program toward human trials and regulatory filing. Jellagen has established development collaborations with research organisations including the Mayo Clinic in the US and partners in Europe to investigate and corroborate its findings. The company is led by CEO Thomas‑Paul Descamps and bases its work on research from Professor Andrew Mearns Spragg. Jellagen is based in Cardiff, Wales, UK, and recently closed an £8.7M Series A to support its clinical and regulatory programs. Jellagen develops advanced collagen biomaterials sourced from a single species of jellyfish, which the company says avoids mammalian disease risks and offers superior healing benefits. The company has an established range of products for the cell culture reagent market and has completed pre-clinical datasets in proven animal models supporting use in human tissue reconstruction, diabetic wound healing and other medical applications. Jellagen has conducted collaborations with leading research organisations in the US and Europe and notes recent data have been published in peer-reviewed scientific articles. The company plans to develop and partner pipeline products aimed at tissue reconstruction, diabetic wound care management and rare skin applications. Jellagen intends to explore development and licensing arrangements with potential pharma and medical-device partners to commercialize its findings. The business was founded in 2015 and is based in Cardiff, Wales. Jellagen is a commercial manufacturer of jellyfish collagen based in Cardiff, Wales. Its jellyfish collagen is intended for wound care and regenerative medicine, and the company's first product range comprises cell culture reagents used to grow stem cells. Jellagen also plans to produce medical devices engineered around jellyfish collagen. Founded in 2013 by Professor Andrew Mearns Spragg (CEO), the firm is advancing commercial applications of its collagen. The company received funding to accelerate sales of its jellyfish-based medicine, grow its specialist management team and strengthen its intellectual property portfolio. Jellagen exploits jellyfish to provide next‑generation collagen biomaterials for application in 3D cell culture, in vitro diagnostics (including research‑level regenerative medicine R&D) and medical devices. The company completed a further £1.53m in equity funding to support its operations and growth. Jellagen intends to use the funds to expand and increase its collagen processing capacity and to establish a Quality Management System. It plans to recruit up to six new staff over the next two years and to strengthen and build its IP portfolio. The company will also allocate capital to business development and marketing activities aimed at increasing sales. Jellagen was founded in August 2013 by Dr Andrew Mearns Spragg and is based in Pembroke Dock, UK.