LifeArc supports MRC spin-out to Series A funding

Our technology transfer team has helped the Medical Research Council (MRC), a founder in PepGen, to advance a novel technology that could improve the effectiveness of cutting-edge nucleic acid therapeutics.

When Dr Mike Gait’s lab of the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge in Cambridge and Professor Matthew Wood’s research team at the University of Oxford created a series of novel and innovative cell-penetrating peptides to enhance the delivery of therapeutic cargos to previously inaccessible tissues and intracellular targets, LifeArc’s Technology Transfer Team was on the journey with the scientists every step of the way.

LifeArc’s work has supported the scientists to progress the technology from the lab bench to the point now where it is ready to move towards the clinic.

Working in partnership

To realise the potential of this research, PepGen was set up in 2018, a spin-out arising from the MRC and the University of Oxford’s research.

LifeArc had been working closely with the University of Oxford and Oxford University Innovation over several years to secure intellectual property (IP) rights and build a robust patent portfolio focused on the cell-penetrating peptides. Over a period of two years, LifeArc negotiated on behalf of MRC the contracts concerning the licensing, setup, and Series A funding round of PepGen.

PepGen is focused on advancing next-generation nucleic acid therapeutics for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and other severe neuromuscular conditions into the clinic.

The startup has now closed a total $45m investment led by RA Capital with participation from Oxford Sciences Innovation (OSI), the University of Oxford and CureDuchenne Ventures. This funding will help take lead candidate programmes through early-phase clinical trials.