The inflammatory diseases company's rapid ascent and exit underscores the importance of friendships, partnerships and networks in innovation.
MiroBio, an Oxford biotech spinout focused on therapeutics for inflammatory diseases, is set to be acquired by global biopharmaceutical company
With its journey from spinning out to exit taking three years, the MiroBio team has delivered one of the fastest exits for an Oxford spinout. Underpinning its development is over 15 years of Oxford research into a fundamental principle of immune cell signalling called Kinetic-Segregation, discovered by Professor
'Once the mechanism was established it was clear we could develop antibodies that could activate inhibitory 'checkpoint' receptors, which exist in a wide variety of different forms on white blood cells, in order to treat human diseases involving transplant rejection, allergy, inflammation and autoimmunity. These diseases have a devastating impact on people's lives around the world every day. Accelerating clinical trials and ultimately developing life-saving drugs will make a major difference for patients,' said
This research paved the way for the development of MiroBio's proprietary discovery platform, I-ReSToRE (REceptor Selection and Targeting to Reinstate immune Equilibrium), and the company's portfolio of immune inhibitory receptor agonists, both of which form the core of the deal with Gilead. MiroBio's lead investigational antibody, MB272, entered Phase I trials this week, with the first patient dosed on 2 August. The antibody targets T, B and dendritic cells with the goal of blocking their activation and suppressing inflammatory immune responses. Through I-ReSToRE, which supports the identification and development of therapeutics for inflammatory diseases, both MiroBio and Gilead anticipate identifying and advancing further agonists.
Launched in 2019, MiroBio was co-founded by
MiroBio has since developed as one of Oxford's most promising university spinout companies, quickly outgrowing its first home at Oxford's BioEscalator site and moving to its current home on the
'The creation of MiroBio came through a series of friendships and partnerships, and benefitted from the rapidly evolving biotech ecosystem in Oxford, including the funding environment that has been created here,' said
Conversations between Davis, Cornall and
The company received support from
OSE and Samsara helped structure and co-lead MiroBio's Series A, which was joined by the international life sciences investors SR One and Advent Life Sciences, raising
'The final key piece of the jigsaw was
Speaking on the deal,
For Chas Bountra, Pro Vice Chancellor for Innovation at
'MiroBio was founded by two of our most brilliant academics, supported by fabulous colleagues in OUI, OSE and other investment companies,' added Professor Bountra. 'This new partnership with a highly innovative global pharma company is going to accelerate new life changing therapies for millions of patients. This is yet another illustration of the broad, vibrant, and growing innovation ecosystem surrounding this great university. This exciting story will undoubtedly inspire many more of our researchers and students. I know the founders are already thinking about the next big healthcare problem.'
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