Rainbow Seed Fund investment CellCentric, the biotechnology Company unlocking epigenetic control mechanisms, has signed an agreement with Takeda, the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan, that covers further validation of an epigenetic target. Early evidence suggests that the protein plays an important role in cancer and inhibitors to the target could offer new ways to treat the disease. Takeda also have an option to licence the development programme.
The target is one of many that CellCentric has identified for therapeutic product development. The Company’s discovery engine is based on relationships with over 20 world leaders in epigenetics. This enables the business to identify opportunities early, leverage the latest and best understanding of the area and accelerate drug discovery and development.
Commenting of the new agreement, Dr Will West, Chief Executive of CellCentric, said: “It is clear that epigenetics is increasingly seen as a key area for target discovery and product development. We are delighted to build our relationship with Takeda, who are showing real commitment to the area.”
Dr Graeme Martin, Chief Executive of Takeda Research Investments added: “CellCentric has a differentiated approach to target discovery which is obviously yielding results. We look forward to generating further exciting data on a very interesting programme.”
About CellCentric
Based in Cambridge, UK, CellCentric is a biotechnology company focused on epigenetics. Since 2004 it has built tied relationships with over twenty world leading laboratories in epigenetics, predominantly in the US and Europe. The company has prioritised a series of novel targets for validation and is generating novel small molecule drugs, principally for cancer treatment.
See: www.cellcentric.com
About Takeda
Located in Osaka, Japan, Takeda is a research-based global company with its main focus on pharmaceuticals, enhancing its R&D pipeline through in-house research and development, lifecycle management of existing products, and also alliance and in-licensing. As the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan and one of the global leaders of the industry, Takeda is committed to striving toward better health for individuals and progress in medicine by developing superior pharmaceutical products.
See: www.takeda.com
About Rainbow Seed Fund
The £8.5m Rainbow Seed Fund was established in 2001 with funding from the Office of Science and Innovation to commercialise scientific research in a leading group of the UK publicly funded institutions, our partners. The Fund made its first investment in 2002 and has increased its partner base twice, in 2004 with the addition of BBSRC and in 2006 when 6 other leading research institutes joined the Fund.
The Fund invests at the earliest stages of a technology’s development, and helps to turn an idea into a business by supporting the management of the business and facilitating investment. Rainbow’s partners spend over £1 billion on research and development every year giving the Fund privileged access to high quality investment propositions at the earliest stage.
Our close involvement at this level means that we are in a key position to identify the products with a commercial future and play an active role in the successful development of these technologies into products and businesses.
