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Seed & Early Stage

We have a long track record of seed and early stage investing in innovation, building young biotech companies with more than just capital.

Along with our investment, we’ll pitch in to help with some of the key challenges that come with building a young biotech company. Like negotiating key academic licenses. Defining the science and business strategy. Finding and attracting a top-calibre senior management team. We’ll even help incubate the company on our offices.

Case Studies

GammaDelta

Based on the pioneering research of Professor Adrian Hayday, UK based GammaDelta exploits the potential of γδ T cells for immunotherapy. In October ’21 Takeda Pharmaceuticals announced the exercise of its option to acquire GammaDelta. Takeda will obtain GammaDelta’s allogeneic variable delta 1 (Vδ1) gamma-delta (γδ) T cell therapy platforms, including both blood-derived and tissue-derived platforms, in addition to early-stage cell therapy programs.

Abingworth Role

  • Sole VC investor since creating the company with seed funding in 2016
  • Incubated the company at our offices
  • Recruited key members of the leadership team: CEO, CSO, CBO
Atsena

Clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on bringing the life-changing power of genetic medicine to reverse or prevent blindness for patients with inherited retinal diseases. The lead program is in an ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating a gene therapy for patients with GUCY2D-associated Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA1), one of the most common causes of blindness in children. The earlier preclinical pipeline in inherited retinal diseases includes multiple programs leveraging the company’s innovative adeno-associated virus (AAV) technology platform.

Abingworth Role

  • Co-led $55m Series A and Jackie Grant joined the board
  • Helped build c-suite management team including recent CSO, CMO hires
  • Expanded business development efforts via our pharma network
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Development Stage

We also understand the different challenges faced by later-stage companies, both public and private, as their programs move through the clinic to market. Our Development Stage strategy is focused on these later-stage companies.

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Clinical Co-Development

We have pioneered a new approach to partnering with pharmaceutical and biotech companies to help them develop effective new drugs and deliver them to patients in an accelerated manner.

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