Haemophilia treatment receives funding boost
17 Mar 2017 by Evoluted New Media
A Cambridge University spin-out that is working on a treatment for haemophilia, has received more than £10m in series A funding.
A Cambridge University spin-out that is working on a treatment for haemophilia, has received more than £10m in series A funding.
The spin-out, ApcinteX, is working on a drug – an antibody called ichorcumab - that can be used to treat patients suffering from any type of haemophilia. This genetic condition means patients have deficiencies in proteins required for blood clotting.
Dr Trevor Baglin, Apcintex founder, said: “Bearing in mind that the majority of people in the world with haemophilia have no access to effective therapy, a stable, easily administered, long-acting, drug that can be used in all patients, regardless of the type of haemophilia, could bring treatment to a great deal many more people who suffer from haemophilia.”
Currently, patients receive regular IV administration of the absent clotting fact, but this therapy is not wholly effective and 25% of patients develop antibodies that results in further treatment being ineffective. Almost 500,000 people suffer from haemophilia.
The treatment – described as ‘the blood of the gods’ by ApcinteX’s founders - offered by the spinout reduces the activity of an anticoagulant pathway so normal blood clotting occurs. It can be administered through an injection every few weeks, without the risk of patients developing a resistance to this form of treatment.
The funding round, which raised £14m, was led by Medicxi and Touchstone Innovations. Director of Healthcare Ventures at Touchstone Innovations, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this funding round which is in many ways a classic example of our model: backing outstanding research which has the potential to translate into differentiated products for patients in a substantial global market.”
ApcinteX was founded by Professor Jim Huntington, from the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research and Dr Trevor Baglin. The haemophilia market is estimated to be worth £8bn.
