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Innovation community news – December
Published on 13 December 2024
Image: ©Recursion. All Rights Reserved.
News and announcements from Milton Park based companies:
- US company Recursion and Milton Park-based Exscientia merge to transform AI-driven drug discovery
- Replimune’s RP1 gains Breakthrough Therapy Designation from FDA
- Pathios Therapeutics advances innovative cancer immunotherapy with PTT-4256
- Tokamak Energy secures $125M (£98.6M) to advance fusion and magnet technologies
Recursion and Exscientia merge to transform AI-driven drug discovery
Recursion and Park-based Exscientia, two leaders in AI-powered drug discovery, have finalised their merger to create a cutting-edge, end-to-end drug discovery platform.
The combination brings together Recursion’s expertise in biological exploration and large-scale data analytics, with Exscientia’s precision chemistry and small-molecule synthesis capabilities. The merged entity aims to conduct approximately ten clinical trials by the end of 2025, accelerating the development of innovative medicines.
Chris Gibson, CEO at Recursion, commented: “I believe the combination of the incredible teams and platforms at Exscientia and Recursion position us as the leader of the AI-enabled drug discovery and development space.”
David Hallet, former CSO and Interim CEO of Exscientia and newly appointed CSO at Recursion, said: “The combination of our platforms and people make us the company to beat.
“With our combined strength of real-world proprietary data and the models we’ve created – hypothesising, testing and learning in a continuous loop – we’re redefining the space by shrinking timelines and costs, identifying and optimising lead candidates faster than traditional methods.”
Pathios Therapeutics advances innovative cancer immunotherapy
Park-based Pathios Therapeutics has commenced a Phase 1/2 clinical trial (RAISIC-1) for its innovative cancer therapy, PTT-4256, an orally administered GPR65 inhibitor* targeting patients with advanced solid tumours.
*A GPR65 inhibitor is a small molecule that reduces the activity of GPR65, a G protein-coupled receptor commonly overproduced in tumours.
This first-in-class drug leverages the company’s expertise in pH-sensing G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) biology to counteract the acidic tumour microenvironment, reducing immunosuppression and enhancing anti-tumour responses. Preclinical studies have shown its potential as a monotherapy, paving the way for a breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy.
The trial, conducted under Australia’s Clinical Trial Notification scheme, will evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and preliminary efficacy.
Commenting on the milestone, Pathios Therapeutics CEO Paul Higham, said: “The initiation of this clinical trial is a significant milestone for Pathios as we advance our innovative therapeutic approach into the clinic and, more importantly, to patients who face limited treatment options.”
Replimune’s RP1 gains Breakthrough Therapy Designation from FDA
Replimune Group, Inc., which has its UK headquarters at Milton Park, announced two major advancements for its lead oncolytic immunotherapy**, RP1 (vusolimogene oderparepvec).
**A treatment which utilises genetically engineered viruses to target tumours.
The FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for RP1 in combination with nivolumab (Opdivo) for advanced melanoma patients who have not responded to anti-PD1 treatments***. This decision, based on promising data from the IGNYTE trial, aims to expedite the review of therapies that show substantial improvements over existing options.
***A form of immunotherapy which inhibits the PD-1 protein present on cell surfaces, activating an anti-tumour immune response.
Replimune also submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) for RP1 under the Accelerated Approval Pathway, moving closer to providing a new treatment option for patients with limited choices.
Replimune CEO, Dr Sushil Patel, remarked: “Today is an important milestone for Replimune and for the melanoma community, as we are one step closer to having another potential treatment available.”
The ongoing IGNYTE-3 Phase 3 trial will further evaluate RP1’s efficacy in transforming cancer care.
Tokamak Energy secures $125M (£98.6M) funding
Milton Park occupier Tokamak Energy has raised $125 million (£98.6M) to accelerate its mission to commercialise fusion energy and expand its high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet business, TE Magnetics.
The funding round, co-led by East X Ventures and Lingotto Investment Management, included new strategic partners such as British Patient Capital and Furukawa Electric Company, BW Group and Sabanci Climate Ventures alongside existing shareholders. These funds bring the company’s total raised to $335 million (£264.2M), combining private investment with government support from the UK and US.
The funds will advance Tokamak Energy’s fusion pilot plant design, part of the US Department of Energy’s Milestone-Based Fusion Development Programme and support the development and testing of fusion technologies using the record-breaking ST40 spherical tokamak.
The combined company, headquartered in Salt Lake City, anticipates achieving significant operational synergies and enhanced scalability in advancing therapeutics for a variety of conditions, from oncology to rare diseases.
Warrick Matthews, CEO at Tokamak Energy, said: “This raise provides us with added experience and capability to drive through this critical and exciting phase of fusion development, addressing the twin challenges of climate change and energy security.
The investment positions Tokamak Energy as a leader in fusion innovation, paving the way for clean, secure, and affordable energy solutions.
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