Bicycle Therapeutics Ltd Seeks to Merge Best Aspects of Small Molecules and Biologics

09-Oct-2009 - United Kingdom

Bicycle Therapeutics Ltd, a new biotechnology company developing a novel technology platform for the creation of a new generation of biotherapeutics, has secured seed funding from Atlas Venture and Novartis Venture Fund. Bicycle Therapeutics combines the most desirable features of small molecules and biologics, to create highly specific and highly stable drugs.

The technology involves the application of phage selection techniques to the identification and optimisation of chemically constrained cyclic peptides with high target specificity and binding affinities that are also stable to unfolding and to the action of proteases. These peptides could be regarded as a mini-antibodies with covalent organic cores, and as such should overcome the weaknesses of previous generations of peptide-based therapeutics

Bicycle Therapeutics is a spin-out from the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge. Its technology platform is based on the work of the founding scientists Sir Gregory Winter, a scientific founder for both CAT and Domantis, and Dr Christian Heinis. The new company is managed by Dr John Tite(Chief Executive Officer) and is based in Cambridge.

"We are delighted to have created this exciting new company based upon such an innovative technology and with scientific founders with such a great track record. Bicycle Therapeutics aims to develop its proprietary technology to create a pipeline of drugs which have the potential to be truly differentiated medicines," said John Tite.

As part of the seed funding, founding investors Dr Regina Hodits, Atlas Venture, and D rAnja König, Novartis Venture Fund, will join the Board of Directors.

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Topic world Antibodies

Antibodies are specialized molecules of our immune system that can specifically recognize and neutralize pathogens or foreign substances. Antibody research in biotech and pharma has recognized this natural defense potential and is working intensively to make it therapeutically useful. From monoclonal antibodies used against cancer or autoimmune diseases to antibody-drug conjugates that specifically transport drugs to disease cells - the possibilities are enormous

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Topic world Antibodies

Antibodies are specialized molecules of our immune system that can specifically recognize and neutralize pathogens or foreign substances. Antibody research in biotech and pharma has recognized this natural defense potential and is working intensively to make it therapeutically useful. From monoclonal antibodies used against cancer or autoimmune diseases to antibody-drug conjugates that specifically transport drugs to disease cells - the possibilities are enormous