- Quell Therapeutics was founded in a university partnership between UCL, Kings College London and Hanover Medical School has enabled researchers to bridge the ‘translational gap’ between science and therapeutic innovation. Quell, whose founding scientists include III theme director Professor Emma Morris aims to develop engineered T regulatory (Treg) cell therapies. Tregs are a subset of T cells that provide a regulatory function and can prevent unwanted over-activation of the immune system through their strong immune-suppressive capacity. Quell will aim to develop therapies addressing a range of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, as well as preventing rejection in organ transplantation. The first treatment targeting liver transplantation with engineered Treg cell therapy is expected to enter the clinic in first half of 2022.
- The biopharmaceutical spin-out company Autolus was founded in 2015 to develop and commercialise engineered T-cells for cancer immunotherapy. Founded on work by Dr Martin Pule, Autolus will develop next-generation engineered CAR T-cell products for treatment of both haematological and solid cancers. Initial clinical trials of CAR T-cells in B-cell malignancies, suggest that this approach may transform treatments of patients, many of whom have no other therapeutic options
- Engitix Ltd is a spin-out from the UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, based at the Royal Free Hospital London and was founded by Dr Giuseppe Mazza and III Board member Professor Massimo Pinzani with support from the BRC III theme. Engitix aim to use their human extracellular matrix platform to identify novel drug targets and effective therapeutics for fibrosis and solid tumours.
- Freeline therapeutics was launched in 2016 by founder and CSO Professor Amit Nathwani with the focus of developing liver-directed gene therapies to deliver potential life-changing gene therapies to patients. Professor Amit Nathwani is Founder and CSO of Freeline. Since 2018 they have enrolled patients into both their haemophilia B next-generation gene therapy and their FLT190 for Fabry Disease AAV gene therapy programmes.
