Leeds, UK, 5 February 2021: LUNAC Therapeutics (LUNAC), a UK based drug discovery company focused on the development of advanced life-saving anticoagulants, has been named as this year’s Start Up of the Year winner at the 19th Bionow Awards.
The 19th Bionow Awards took place with an online ceremony on Thursday 4 February 2021 and showcased the best of this world-class sector. The Start Up Award recognised organisations that are using innovative approaches to solve a significant healthcare need, and where the company has a high-growth potential. Bionow is a not-for-profit membership organisation supporting the biomedical, pharma and life sciences sectors across the North of England. The awards bring together leaders in the North of England’s life sciences industry and recognises life sciences companies, academics and health organisations for their application of cutting-edge technologies.
Dr Mervyn Turner, Chair of LUNAC Therapeutics, said: “LUNAC is honoured to receive the Bionow Start Up of the Year award and the recognition of our peers throughout the UK and further afield. LUNAC has leading scientific founders, supported by a quality network of UK partners. We look forward to building our team and growing LUNAC as we make progress on this important antithrombosis project.”
About LUNAC Therapeutics
LUNAC Therapeutics is a spin out from the University of Leeds pursuing the discovery of next generation oral anticoagulant therapies with a reduced risk of causing bleeding compared to current treatments. LUNAC’s primary focus is on the inhibition of activated Factor XII (FXIIa), a clotting factor enzyme which plays a role in pathological clot formation (thrombosis), but not in the stemming of bleeding (haemostasis).
The business is founded on IP generated by Professor Helen Philippou (Professor of Translational Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Leeds) and Dr Richard Foster (Associate Professor in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Leeds), built on a decade of academic research into FXIIa in association with some of the world’s leading supporters of scientific and medical research, including the Wellcome Trust, British Heart Foundation and the UK’s Medical Research Council.
To date LUNAC has raised over £8m to progress the FXIIa project. This includes £3.14m from the Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst Fund and £5m secured in a Series A financing round led by transatlantic venture fund Epidarex Capital (Edinburgh, UK & Maryland, US). Epidarex Capital invests in early-stage, high growth life science and health technology companies in under-ventured markets. Epidarex focuses on providing risk capital to young companies, including spin-outs, from leading research institutions in both established and emerging life science hubs. The fund’s international management team has a track record of successfully partnering with top scientists and entrepreneurs to develop highly innovative products for the global healthcare market. For more information, please go to www.lunactherapeutics.com.
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