Achilles Therapeutics is focused on the development of novel cancer immunotherapies targeting truncal tumour neo-antigens. It brings together world-class research from UCL and the Francis Crick Institute, funded by Cancer Research UK and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Truncal tumour neo-antigens are unique flags to the immune system present on all cancer cells in an individual patient’s tumour but not on healthy cells, allowing scientists to target and destroy tumours without harming healthy tissues. The company has exclusive rights to develop and commercialise neo-antigen technologies arising from Cancer Research UK’s £14m TRACERx study. The study, which involves 850 people with non-small cell lung cancer, tracks the evolution of patients’ cancers over time, in different parts of their tumours and in response to treatment.

Syncona LLP and Cancer Research Technology, with the support of UCLB and the Francis Crick Institute, formed Achilles Therapeutics in October 2016.