A NEW University of Edinburgh spin-out has launched with £3.2 million of seed funding to develop immunotherapies targeting cancer tumours.
Macomics is founded on research from the laboratory of Jeffrey Pollard, director of the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health. Together with Macomics co-founder Luca Cassetta, they have produced decades of research into the role of macrophages in increasing the body’s immune defence against tumours.
The seed funding has been provided by transatlantic scientific investor Epidarex Capital and the Scottish Investment Bank. The cash is expected to fund an initial 18 months of work before Macomics embarks on its next funding round.
Macomics has also announced the appointment of biotechnology industry expert Robert Haigh as chief executive, and Jane Dancer as a non-executive director.
Mr Pollard said: “The creation of Macomics based on the research of my group at the University of Edinburgh provides the team with an exciting opportunity to develop new effective cancer drugs against macrophage targets that will bring real clinical benefit to many more patients suffering from cancer.”
