MIP Discovery, a developer of non-biological affinity reagents, today announced it has closed a £7m Series A financing round, led by Mercia Ventures.
The company’s reagents are specifically designed to accelerate the development and production of cell and gene therapies.
Existing investor Calculus Capital also participated in the round, along with Angel investors.
The investment marks a pivotal change for MIP Discovery as the Company refocuses its mission on improving the downstream processing of cell and gene therapies, to accelerate widespread adoption of these medicines.
The funds will also support recruitment efforts to expand in-house cell and gene therapy expertise.
MIP Discovery’s non-biological affinity reagents support a new approach to viral vector characterisation, viral vector purification and safety and QC processes, such as the detection and removal of impurities.
Viral vectors are a critical component for many cell and gene therapies, and yet many of the current technologies used to characterise, develop and manufacture them do not meet the required standards for scale, performance or economics.
Taking the industry beyond the limitations of biological reagents, MIP Discovery’s synthetic antibody alternatives offer a fresh approach to downstream processing for cell and gene therapy developers.
MIP Discovery considers both the target and end-use application during the design phase of its reagents, offering an advanced alternative to biologicals with greater possibilities for characterisation and downstream processing.
Mike Evans, Chair of MIP Discovery, said: “MIP Discovery’s synthetic affinity reagents offer an innovative alternative to antibodies, and are better suited for downstream processing of advanced therapies. Backed by our proven technology and the confidence of our investors, we hope to help increase the affordability of cell and gene therapies, enabling the efficient delivery of these potentially life-saving treatments on a global scale.”
