• Newcells Biotech

  Participated · Equity · Dec 2024

  Newcells Biotech develops 3D models that mimic human tissues to help speed drug development and reduce reliance on animal testing. The company offers models of the retina, kidney and lung and also provides testing services on customers' behalf. Newcells says its models enable companies to bring drugs to market more quickly and at lower cost than using animal testing and better predict how a drug will behave in the human body. The firm intends to use new funding to build its customer base and pursue partnerships with companies offering complementary products to enhance its offering. Newcells was founded in 2015 as a spin-out from the University of Newcastle and is based in Newcastle, UK. Newcells Biotech builds 3D models of human tissues (retina, kidney, lung) and offers bespoke assay services used by pharmaceutical companies for efficacy and toxicity testing. The company’s models are used worldwide to support decisions on drug development and human trials. It plans to use the latest funding to add powerful imaging technology to produce more data faster, expand marketing activity, and create 10 new jobs. Newcells is a 2015 spin-out from the University of Newcastle and is Newcastle-based. The firm employs 49 people, works with over 100 customers internationally, and reported a 56% revenue increase in the last financial year. To date the company has raised over £12 million in funding. Newcells Biotech develops human tissue models using proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and cell-biology technology to generate organoids and other 3D models for drug safety, efficacy and pharmacology testing. The company supplies products and services to global pharmaceutical and biotech customers and says its models have helped lower the risk of early drug-discovery projects. Newcells is focused on commercialising kidney and retina treatment models for its major North American market and accelerating development of liver and lung models. The lung models could support SARS-CoV-2 research and related treatments. Management plans to use recent funding to expand commercial operations and accelerate international growth, particularly in the USA. The company is described as commercial-stage and has attracted repeat investment from existing backers. Newcells Biotech produces and differentiates human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and develops 2-D and 3-D (organoid) cell-based assays. The company focuses on incorporating advanced biology into assays to better mimic in vivo physiology for pre-clinical disease modelling and drug safety evaluation. It has launched a validated assay for kidney transporter function and nephrotoxicity measurement. Its development pipeline includes hiPSC-based models of the human retina and skin for drug safety assessment, pharmacokinetics and disease modelling. Newcells secured £2m in funding to expand its capabilities and accelerate plans to develop and launch new cell-based assays for pre-clinical drug discovery and development. The company was founded on technology from Prof Lyle Armstrong and Prof Majlinda Lako of Newcastle University and is based in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

• Iksuda Therapeutics

  Led · Equity · Jun 2012

  Iksuda Therapeutics is developing a new generation of ADCs that use tumour-activated, prodrug payloads and stable conjugation technologies to improve safety and efficacy. Its research-stage pipeline centers on the proprietary PermaLink® conjugation platform and the Protein Alkylating (ProAlk) tumour-activated payload series, licensed from Göttingen University. The company’s lead preclinical candidate, IKS03, is a CD19-targeted ADC for B‑cell cancers and is being advanced toward first-in-human Phase 1 trials. Funding from the recent financing will also accelerate earlier-stage programmes IKS04 and IKS012 toward IND filing. Iksuda targets tumours with limited treatment options and high relapse rates, positioning its assets to address resistance mechanisms distinct from traditional cross-linking payloads. The company is based in Newcastle, England. Glythera is a biopharmaceutical company spun out from the University of Bath that focuses on enhancing protein and peptide therapeutics through advanced glycosylation and conjugation. Its core technologies, Permalink and Permacarb, enable selective and stable functionalization and glycosylation of biopharmaceuticals to improve stability, bioavailability and efficacy. The company has established commercial operations at Newcastle’s INEX incubator and appointed Dr. David Simpson as Chief Operating Officer. Glythera is led by Chairman Dr. Anthony Baxter and is developing its technology platform for application in enhanced therapeutic candidates. Financially, Glythera has secured a total of £2m in funding to be tranched over the next three years, with the initial tranche already invested. The company plans to draw the subsequent tranches (each of a similar size) contingent on meeting specified milestones. Glythera is a UK-based spin-out from the University of Bath developing a new generation of biological therapeutics through advanced glycosylation technologies. Its core technologies include PermaLink and PermaCarb, aimed at protein and peptide functionalisation. PermaLink is a patented linker chemistry validated to selectively modify cysteine groups to stably attach functional groups such as PEG and carbohydrates at defined locations on therapeutic proteins, vaccines and peptides. The company has formed partnerships with four pharmaceutical companies and governmental research organisations, including PATH and the FDA. Glythera met key technical and commercial milestones and will receive the second tranche of a £500,000 investment under an agreement with the University of Bath Crescent Seedcorn fund and AIM-listed IP Group. Executive Chairman Dr Anthony Baxter said the financing will enable continued commercialisation of PermaLink and PermaCarb and further research in glycosylation technologies.

• MymCart

  Led · Equity · Feb 2012

  MymCart offers a self-serve mobile commerce platform that lets small businesses create mobile-optimized branded websites and accept payments via smartphone. The company is led by managing director Mark Kuhillow and chairman Philip Hunt. It plans to use the new funding to expand into the North East. The articles report a committed investment structure and a conditional follow-on commitment tied to business targets. No operating metrics or revenue figures were disclosed in the coverage. The company is based in Manchester, UK.

• Cruise Compare

  Led · Equity · Mar 2011

  CruiseCompare.co.uk operates a website that aggregates deals from various holiday providers and lets users post pictures and stories in a community section. Launched in 2011 by Tom Fotheringham, a former DFDS Seaways online marketing manager, the site is developing a last-minute deals section to help fill cruise-ship spaces at discounted prices. The company intends to use recent funding to boost its internet and media profile. CruiseCompare.co.uk plans to roll the site out in other countries in future months. The product focus is on surfacing competitive cruise offers and building user-generated content to drive engagement. No operating metrics were disclosed in the article.

• Masher

  Led · Equity · Jan 2011

  Masher develops a web application that lets users mix videos, photos, music and digital effects and post the results to social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. The app was developed at BBC Worldwide’s BBC Motion Gallery and has been used in campaigns for brands including Adidas, Nike and American Express. Created in 2008 and based in Gateshead, the company currently employs three people at the Gateshead International Business Centre. Masher plans to hire four or five people in the next 12 months. Management says the new funding will help fully integrate the app into Facebook and develop premium, fee‑based services. The company raised £550,000 in this round, and existing backers include IBIS Capital, BBC Worldwide, Mallesons Finance and private backer Tom Singh.

No current team members are available.