LifeArc Ventures

Scientist & Senior Scientist – Translational Biology We are looking for a bright and enthusiastic Scientist and a Senior Scientist in our Translational Biology team based in the super new Unity Campus, Pampisford, Cambridge. Candidates will have deep expertise in human immunology.   Reporting to the Director of Translational Biology, the successful candidate will be responsible for developing disease relevant in vitro/ex vivo models and delivering data packages to support indication selection and clinical trial design. Click on the link below to review the detailed job role and focus and apply! https://lnkd.in/eTW58YpX

Our own Chris Baker Matt Lulham-Robinson & Sohaib Mir meeting fellow investors and companies at this week's #BioEuropeSpring organised by EBD Group. #LifeArc

Our multi-electrode-array system is up and running! 🔬 The video shows this technology capturing real-time spontaneous electrical activity from our iPSC-derived motor neurons, co-cultured with astrocytes for 50 days. As changes in electrical excitability are among the earliest signs of neurodegenerative diseases like MND, detecting and quantifying these changes is crucial for understanding disease mechanisms and evaluating potential drugs. A key advantage of this technology is its ability to record activity across a network of neurons, providing a more accurate representation of the complex biological systems that drive neuronal function. Since 2022, we've been developing our iPSC platform to advance our MND research. iPSCs are derived from patient-donated samples and can become any cell type, helping us create better disease models and improve drug discovery. The multi-electrode-array system is a key piece of technology that will support our iPSC capability. While we are still optimising this specialist technology, this early data marks an exciting step forward for our research in MND and neurodegenerative diseases.

We're building a portfolio of exceptional life science companies with outstanding innovation and inspiring leadership. We invest in early-stage science-led businesses that can benefit from our advice, scientific insight and venture funding. As part of LifeArc, we offer a unique combination of scientific, commercial and financial support to help startups bring innovation to patients. 🌱 Across therapeutics, healthtech and medtech, our portfolio companies are at the forefront of medical progress. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gScCxu9E

Cambridge biotech Maxion Therapeutics has raised $72 million (£58m) in a Series A financing to further grow the business worldwide. The company is developing antibody-based KnotBody® drugs for ion channel and G protein coupled receptor (GPCR)-driven diseases. This oversubscribed Series A funding round was led by General Catalyst with additional investment from new investors, British Business Bank: British Patient Capital, Solasta Ventures and Eli Lilly and Company and supported by existing investors LifeArc Ventures, Monograph Capital and BGF. Maxion is developing a proprietary pipeline of KnotBody molecules with “first-in-class" and “best-in-class" potential. Maxion’s lead KnotBody programme, MAX001, is currently in preclinical development to target a broad spectrum of inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis and inflammatory bowel disease. Co-founders Dr. John McCafferty and Dr. Aneesh Karatt Vellatt developed Maxion’s revolutionary KnotBody technology Arndt Schottelius, MD PhD, Maxion’s CEO, said: “This landmark fundraising – one of the largest European private biotech financings since the beginning of 2024 – highlights the significant potential of our technology and development pipeline. “KnotBodies represent a potential breakthrough biologic drug modality, delivering greater potency, selectivity, and durability. We believe that KnotBodies will provide transformational new therapeutic options for ion channel- and GPCR-driven diseases, across a wide range of therapeutic areas with a remaining high unmet medical need.” “The calibre of our international investor syndicate validates our approach, and I would like to welcome our new investors to Maxion and thank our existing investors for their continued support.” Following this fundraising, Elena Viboch, Managing Director at General Catalyst and Emma Johnson, Senior Investment Manager, Life Sciences at British Patient Capital will join the Maxion Board. Elena Viboch said: “We believe Maxion is radically shifting the biologics discovery process to address the most challenging drug targets such as ion channels and GPCRs. With a strong team and differentiated platform, Maxion is well-positioned to discover and develop medicines that matter.” Full article – https://lnkd.in/eH44dQK2

Are you a #caregiver to someone with #FTD or #dementia? When Tanya’s husband was diagnosed with #FTD, she quickly found herself in the caregiver position. Learn more about how Tanya managed her husband’s FTD diagnosis and her caregiver journey in the video below. #FrontotemporalDementia #endFTD

“We are delighted to continue to back Maxion Therapeutics’ team as they progress their KnotBody platform into the clinic. The calibre of international investors in the $72 million Series A is testament to the potential of Maxion’s unique approach, which we believe can be transformative in the treatment of multiple ion channel- and GPCR-driven diseases.” Sohaib Mir, Partner, LifeArc Ventures. #LifeArc

The Shared Commitment to Public Involvement aims to raise the standards of health research through stronger and more meaningful engagement with patients and the public. As we join with other partners to mark the third anniversary of this pledge, we have taken the time to reflect on our continuing engagement work. From challenging assumptions to improving the rigour and relevance of research, we recognise the value that involving patients and the public in our work adds. That is why we worked with a patient advisory group to develop our Patient Engagement Framework - an internal resource that equips our teams with practical tools and templates for planning and executing involvement activities. Learn more about the development of this framework and our continued collaboration with patients and the public here: https://lnkd.in/ekkBAKM7

AviadoBio is doing incredible work in the fight against FTD! Their innovative gene therapy approach is breaking barriers, literally, by bypassing the blood-brain barrier to deliver targeted treatments. Every breakthrough brings us one step closer to a cure, and I’m so grateful for all they are doing to help those affected by FTD. #EndFTD #GeneTherapy #HopeForACure

Weight loss drugs work. But are they optimized? A recent study from Cengiz et al published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism explores a critical question: can less frequent doses of GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide & tirzepatide achieve the same weight loss results at a lower cost? https://lnkd.in/eZpMEwdE The findings are promising—showing that alternative dosing regimens could reduce costs while maintaining efficacy. But there’s a catch. One-size-fits-all dosing doesn’t work. Some patients respond well, others don’t. Side effects vary. Adherence drops. Without real-time adaptation, we risk inefficiencies, wasted resources, and suboptimal care. This is where Closed Loop Medicine (CLM) changes the game. By combining personalized dosing with real-time data, CLM’s technology removes the guesswork from treatment. Instead of static prescriptions, patients receive dynamically adjusted doses based on their individual response. This means: ✅ More effective treatments with fewer side effects ✅ Better patient adherence through precision dosing ✅ Smarter cost savings by optimizing medication use Personalized, data-driven medicine isn’t just the future. It’s happening now. "The future of medicine? Smarter, personalized care." What’s your take on adaptive dosing? Let’s discuss. ⬇️ #PrecisionMedicine #DigitalHealth #HealthTech #WeightLossDrugs #GLP1Agonists #FutureOfHealthcare #SmartDosing #PatientFirst