BioPharm Companies
Overview
The range of biomedical expertise within UCL is extensive, and the potential for industry collaboration is well proven. The following companies are just a snapshot of successes delivered to the marketplace, and further information can be provided upon request.
Ark Therapeutics Ltd.
A European biotechnology company, Ark Therapeutics was established in July 1997 by Professor John Martin, Mr Stephen Barker and Professor Seppo Yla-Herttuala. Its Finnish arm, Ark Therapeutics Oy, was acquired in 2001. The company has a broad range of products in late stage clinical development. The therapeutic focus is on clear unmet clinical needs within the high value specialist medical areas of vascular disease and cancer. Ark successfully floated on the London Stock Exchange in March 2004.
Web:www.arktherapeutics.com
Arrow Therapeutics Ltd.
Arrow Therapeutics is a London-based pharmaceutical company focussed exclusively on research and development of novel antiviral drugs. The company has developed a broad pipeline of early and late stage projects at various stages between early research and clinical development.
Their in-house research has resulted in compounds active against Hepatitis C and Respiratory Syncytial Virus. The leading RSV compound is currently in a phase II clinical trial and was the cornerstone of a deal with Novartis to develop and commercialise the small molecule inhibitor RSV604 (previously known as A-60444) for the treatment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Further breakthroughs have lead to their recently announced acquisition by AstraZeneca, for circa $150m cash.
Web:www.arrowt.co.uk
Biovex Ltd.
Formed in 1999, Biovex is a private biotech company, based near Oxford, developing a new class of potent vaccines to treat and prevent cancer and certain viral diseases. The Company has two vaccine platforms; OncoVEX and ImmunoVEX, and a functional genomics platform for gene target validation in neurons and other tissues (NeuroVEX). The Company`s lead product has completed Phase I clinical trials with Phase II studies in melanoma, breast cancer and head and neck cancer begun in October 2006.
Web:www.biovex.com
Canbex
Founded in 2005, Canbex is a developer of active compounds in the field of spasticity and pain. The company develops peripherally-acting cannabinoid antagonists for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Canbex Therapeutics is a joint investment collaboration with BBSF (Bloomsbury Bio-Seed Fund) and the recipient of a Wellcome translation award. The company portfolio includes two different series of compounds that have been extensively characterised in MS models. The company is a licensing vehicle for this breakthrough technology and research work is being carried on this project at UCL, Queen Mary’s and Cambridge Universities. The company is managed and supported by UCL Business’ management team.
Domainex Ltd.
Domainex was established by scientists from the Institute of Cancer Research, University College London and Birkbeck College, with seed funding from the Bloomsbury BioSeed Fund. The company works on cutting edge science to create fragments of protein molecules encoded by cancer causing genes, or those involved in viral infections which can then be targeted for drug development. The technology developed by Domainex will greatly assist the study of the 3D structures of protein molecules involved in cancer and viral infection. This will provide a greater understanding as to how these proteins work and lead to the identification of new therapeutic drugs.
Web: www.domainex.co.uk
Evexar Medical Ltd.
Evexar is a medical device company founded by Mr Steven Barker, a UCL researcher and vascular surgeon, focussing on medical devices for hernia and vascular surgery.
Web: www.evexar.com
Flexnlock Ltd.
Flexnlock is a material production company based on medical device technology, developed in a partnership between UCL and Brunel University, with shared IP. The company develops lightweight `lockable` material suitable for a variety of medical and Health & Safety applications.
Web: www.flexnlock.com
Genex Biosystems
Genex Biosystems Ltd has developed a set of non-viral vectors that have shown outstanding transfection capabilities both in vitro (e.g. primary cell lines) and in-vivo (transfection of blood vessels and respiratory tract). Genex is now selling its vector for lab reagent applications and has in-house therapeutic vector in development for cardiovascular indications.
Inpharmatica Ltd.
Inpharmatica specialises in the use of predictive informatics in biology, medicinal chemistry and ADME to improve the speed and productivity of drug discovery. The key elements of Inpharmatica`s business are: Chematica(TM) - a powerful proprietary chemogenomics approach to drug discovery, which draws on Inpharmatica’s vast drug discovery-relevant databases and expertise, and Admensa(TM)– a unique combination of ADME optimisation expertise, proprietary in silico tools, laboratory services and consulting, to enable early selection of compounds with an optimal balance of properties. On December 6, 2006, Galapagos NV (Euronext & London AIM: GLPG), an integrated drug discovery company, acquired Inpharmatica in an all-share transaction valued at 12.5M Euro, for details see www.glpg.com. Inpharmatica now trades as part of Galapagos` BioFocus DPI subsidiary (www.biofocus.com) Web: www.inpharmatica.co.uk
Intercytex
Intercytex is a leading cell therapy company focused on high impact treatments for the restoration and regeneration of skin and hair. Intercytex is using its fully integrated cell technology platform to develop living, human cell-based products at commercially viable scale in attractive markets.
Web: www.intercytex.com
Medic-to-Medic
Medic-to-Medic is a browser based, clinical framework that mobilises specialist knowledge and makes this available and readily usable by non specialist clinicians. The product is fully localisable and works across primary and secondary healthcare sectors to help optimise best practice. Medic-to-Medic is the result of three year`s work and the knowledge of more than 260 doctors, their service teams and general practitioners based at the Royal Free Hospital and the Royal Free and University College Medical School.
The Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust is at the heart of a network of care that operates across North London and Hertfordshire. Product development is led by Medic-to-Medic`s founder and Editor-in-Chief, Dr Owen Epstein, a consultant physician at the Royal Free Hospital. This company was successfully sold T&F Informa UK Ltd. in June 2005 and represents a significant success story for UCL Business.
Web: www.medic-to-medic.com
Pentraxin Therapeutics
Pentraxin Therapeutics Ltd is a UCL spin out company formed in 2001. It holds all the intellectual property and proprietary knowledge emanating from Professor Pepys’ research at UCL. Pentraxin Therapeutics Ltd is concerned with the research and development of drugs for the treatment of amyloidosis and amyloid-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and type II diabetes, as well as targeting the pathogenic effects of C-reactive protein in cardiovascular disease and inflammatory diseases.
PolyMASC Pharmaceuticals PLC
(now merged with urigen pharmaceuticals Inc)
PolyMASC’s patented Pegylation and Liposomes technologies helped them to be the first university spin out company to float on the London Alternative Investment Market in 1995. The company merged with Valentis Inc. in 2000. In July 2007, Urigen Pharmaceuticals Inc completed a reverse merger with Valentis Inc, Urigen Pharmaceuticals is a specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialisation of therapeutic products for urological disorders.
Web: www.urigen.com
Proaxon
Proaxon Ltd are developing and commercialising active compounds in the CNS area that either function to modulate sodium channels or have activity in neurodegenerative diseases and function in white and grey matter protection.
Spirogen Ltd.
A London based biotech company pioneering the discovery and development of a unique class of low molecular weight sequence-specific DNA-interactive drugs designed to treat gene-mediated diseases. The company is commercialising a platform technology capable of discovering lead compounds that target any gene sequence. The therapeutic potential is in a broad range of diseases and physiological processes.
Web: www.spirogen.com
Stanmore Implants Worldwide Ltd.
Stanmore Implants Worldwide Ltd is a rapidly-growing orthopaedic company, focused on saving and restoring the function of limbs and joints. Since 1949 the Company has been a world-leader in limb salvage (complex reconstructions of long bone and joints lost to conditions such as bone tumour), patient-specific implants, and complex joint replacements. Stanmore Implants designs, manufactures and markets to more than 20 countries and is developing a technological breakthrough, called ITAP, which could revolutionise the way artificial limbs are attached to the body. The Company is located at the world-renowned Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital at Stanmore and collaborates closely with the University College London Centre for Biomedical Engineering
Web: www.stanmoreimplants.co.uk
