Start-ups and spin-outs in Life Sciences

Developing drugs using ground-breaking targeted protein degradation technology from the laboratory of Professor Alessio Ciulli. Amphista was named one of 2022’s Fierce 15 biotechnology companies. In 2022, they announced collaborations with Merck Healthcare and Bristol Myers Squibb potentially worth $2 billion. It won ‘Deal of the Year >€500m' category at the Lifestars Awards for those simultaneously announced deals.

Developing oral therapies that target the various phases of cell cycle control for the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases.

Exscientia developed and applied pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) drug design methodologies that enhance the efficacy and the efficiency of drug discovery for the pharmaceutical industry. With a market capitalisation of over $2Bn, it became one of the UK’s largest Biotech companies. In late 2024, Exscientia combined with Recursion to form the world's leading TechBio company.

Design and production of software and data storage solutions for biological imaging. Glencoe Software is the commercial arm of the Open Microscopy Environment, a community-led, open-source data specification and software development consortium.

Outrun Therapeutics is unlocking the potential of protein stabilisation by developing drugs that inhibit E3 ligase enzymes. Outrun is using technology developed in the lab of Professor Satpal Virdee that accelerates the drug discovery process for these enzymes.

Specialises in developing new therapeutics for unmet medical needs. They target defined patient subgroups with differentiated small molecule therapeutics. They are currently developing their next pipeline assets by targeting stop codon mutations in cancer and genetic diseases. In 2023, they announced a licensing deal to VYNE Therapeutics for an inhibitor for immuno-inflammatory and fibrotic disorders potentially worth $50m in upfront and milestones plus mid-tier single digit royalties.

An exciting new biotech spin out company offering innovative human skin explant technology that allows superior retention of in vivo physiological characteristics for testing of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics products, reducing the need for testing in animal models. In 2021, they announced near £1 million investment from TRICAPITAL LTD and Scottish Enterprise.

Enables and supports ubiquitin system focussed drug discovery by developing novel compounds targeted towards ubiquitin system proteins as well providing access to a suite of comprehensive research services and reagents. Collaborators include Bristol Myers Squibb, Medivir and KSQ Therapeutics.