University of Bristol Swing CytoSeek Has rounded up a £ 3.5 million round to develop new cell therapy for the treatment of solid tumors in cancer patients. Funding is led Creates Science Ventures (SCV), Bristol’s new deep technology EIS fund for science and engineering start-ups, and is the firm’s first investment since its announcement Venture capital fund last december.
Solid tumors are responsible for the majority of cancer deaths and are notorious for treatment even with current immune cell therapies, as tumors suppress the ability of immune cells to kill cancer cells. CytoSeek’s technology is designed not only to help immune cells target solid tumors, but also to improve their cancer cell killing capacity.
The company was founded in November 2017 by Professor Adam Perriman – Professor of Bioengineering at the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Bristol – and veteran biotech CEO Drs. Carolyn is led by Porter.
CEO at CytoSeek Drs. Carolyn Porter states: “This SCV-led funding round will enable us to step up our R&D efforts and further our mission to develop the next generation of cancer cell therapy. Our ambition is to obtain our technology in cancer patients who are currently outlined by existing therapies and work with partners to improve their cell. “
Adam Perriman, director and CSO professor at CytoSeek, says: “SCV has played such an important role in this investment process. Together with science incubators and networks, it provides the glue for our ecosystem that has enabled our success to date. Our technology has real potential to improve cell treatment for cancer patients, and I believe this seed round will allow the company to progress to the next level. “
Cytosec has become the first investment in science
SCV is a new early stage deep technical investment fund that focuses on technologies with the potential to improve health care, quality of life and the environment. It is supported and supported by successful Bristol-based entrepreneurs behind some of the Southwest’s biggest deep tech exits, including Drs. Includes Harry Destroxix, who, in 2018, sold his company Giallo for potentially £ 623 million.
Harry dr Sam is the founder and general partner of SCV with Oloff, a biotechnologist, Oxford University fellow, and biotech entrepreneur.
Commenting on SCV’s first investment, Harry says: “We have been impressed by Sitesk’s academic credibility and the strength of its leadership team. It continues to move forward with its pioneering innovations by developing new treatments that will eventually lead to thousands of people Can save the life of I feel very positive about the company’s significant growth potential.
“Historically, biotech companies in the Southwest have struggled to raise sufficient capital, even though technology and research have been there. While acquiring Xylo, my own start-up, I was simply aware of how many searches failed to emerge from the lab in Bristol alone. No matter the quality of research and discovery, the right ecosystem is fundamental if we are going to convert 90% failure rate to 88% success rate for companies[1], And create many more successful ventures.
“Why we have launched SCV; To find great technologies, syndicate with other world-class investors and obtain sufficient capital to help companies accelerate their technologies in the market. CytoSeek is one of these examples. It has also benefited from being based on our incubator, Unit DX, and with the opening of our second large incubator, Unit DY, there will be room for the company to scale rapidly.
SCV has been working closely with CytoSeek since its inception and led a syndicate of new investors, including Parkwalk Advisors, Meltwind, Luminous Ventures, and several angel investors, in this funding round.
