Oxford start-up developing novel therapeutics based on deep expertise in immune cell regulation
Oxford start-up developing novel therapeutics based on deep expertise in immune cell regulation
Oxford, UK, October 7 2019 – MiroBio, a novel therapeutics company based on insights into the regulation of receptor signalling in immune cells, has raised £27m ($34m) from a syndicate of international specialist life sciences investors. Oxford Sciences Innovation and Samsara Biocapital co-led the round and have been joined by Advent Life Sciences and SR One. Proceeds from the Series A fundraising will allow the company to advance its lead programmes, strengthen its proprietary platform, expand its discovery efforts, and build out its management team for the next phase of growth. In conjunction with the financing, Srini Akkaraju MD/PhD, Managing General Partner of Samsara Biocapital, Deborah Harland PhD, Partner of SROne, Andrew Mclean MD, Principal of OSI and Shahzad Malik MD, General Partner of Advent Life Sciences, will join the Board of Directors.
MiroBio’s unique platform has its foundations in research and technology from the laboratories of Simon Davis, Professor of Molecular Immunology at the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, and Richard Cornall, Nuffield Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Oxford. The company is developing proprietary antibodies and variants to stimulate specific immune cell signals, allowing MiroBio to harness the natural control mechanisms of the immune system for therapeutic benefit across a range of diseases. Initially, MiroBio will focus on applications in auto-immune disease, and is exploring other applications opportunistically.
Dr Srini Akkaraju, Samsara Biocapital, said, “MiroBio has an innovative approach to regulating immune cell activity. By combining this understanding of receptor signalling with detailed knowledge of disease biology and expertise in drug development, we are building a compelling company which has the potential to create meaningful new medicines in a variety of therapeutic indications.”
“MiroBio has a robust technology and the ambition to bring new medicines to patients in need of improved therapies,” said Dr Eliot Charles, Executive Chairman of MiroBio and Venture Partner at SROne. “To help realize this goal, we have assembled a strong syndicate of leading healthcare investors who have a solid track record of creating successful biotech companies and backing world leading teams like the one we have started to build.”
Professor Simon Davis, University of Oxford, said, “We have been studying key aspects of signalling through immune cell receptors for over 15 years. Working collaboratively with MiroBio and its investors, we now have the opportunity to translate our insights, ideas and technologies into important new medicines that could significantly improve patients’ lives.”
For further information please contact:
MiroBio
Dr Eliot Charles, Executive Chairman
comms@mirobio.com
About MiroBio
MiroBio was established as a spin-out from the University of Oxford in 2019. It is developing antibody modulators of immune cell receptors, an approach that has potential across a range of diseases, with an initial focus on auto-immune disease. Its platform is based on the work of its founding scientists, Simon Davis, Professor of Molecular Immunology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, and Richard Cornall, Nuffield Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Oxford. Their understanding of how immune receptor signalling takes place at the cell surface has generated a platform of IP and technologies which is being exploited by MiroBio.
The company has assembled a team of drug discovery and development experts and is based at the BioEscalator on the University of Oxford’s Old Road clinical campus. It recently raised £27m from an international syndicate of life sciences investors including Advent Life Sciences, Oxford Sciences Innovation, Samsara Biocapital and SR One. For more information please go to www.mirobio.com.
