Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies Ltd.

英国伦敦证交所似乎正在成为Biotech融资的禁区，放在以前，许多英国当地的Biotech会倾向于前往伦敦证交所的AIM（另类投资市场）板块上市。 1995年成立的AIM是个类似国内“新三板”的板块，上市条件非常宽松，外加有来自离岸金融中心的优势（许多上市公司在英吉利海峡群岛或英属维尔京群岛注册），因此在一段时间内也成为了许多当地Biotech挂牌的地方。 但在近期，许多当地Biotech企业不再能从AIM获得公共资金，这促使一些企业向美国市场寻求现金来扩大业务规模，或者干脆私有化退出市场。当地媒体城市晨报指出，AIM现在已经淹没在私有化收购浪潮中，过去一年中这种私有化事件增长了75%，达到12年来的最高水平。 Redx Pharma Redx Pharma可以说是近年来非常倒霉的一家英国Biotech，这家公司最开始于2015年上市于AIM，而且所开发的管线完全有能力大卖，但因为机缘巧合错过了： Redx Pharma是最开始开发BTK抑制剂匹妥布替尼的，后来匹妥布替尼仅以4000万美元被Loxo Oncology低价收购。而Loxo Oncology被礼来收购后，礼来却将匹妥布替尼作为了“重磅炸弹”开发，销售额预测可达30亿美元，可以说Redx Pharma白白错失了“泼天富贵”。非常可惜。 该公司另外的失利来自于核心管线，去年3月porcupine抑制剂RXC004胆道癌临床失败，放弃单药应用，RXC004失败的原因被认为可能是质量窗口太小，拿得出手的管线仅剩下ROCK2抑制剂RXC007和2020年独家授权给阿斯利康的porcupine抑制剂RXC006，用于治疗纤维化疾病。 第二重要的核心管线失利，Redx Pharma也在英国市场上失去了公共资金支持，股价大跌。为了起码能推动RXC007的临床，Redx Pharma与美国公司Jounce Therapeutics在纳斯达克反向合并上市，身为壳的Jounce Therapeutics彻底放弃了自身管线而寻求出售。然而5月的时候，神秘搅局者收购了Jounce Therapeutics，这导致合并报团取暖都做不到。 祸不单行的是，今年Q1的时候，阿斯利康退货了RXC006，Redx Pharma在AIM的股价也随着坏消息而一路下跌。为了生存，该公司还将KRAS G12C抑制剂卖给了Jazz。 很显然，Redx认为AIM市场的流动性限制正在削弱其估值。因此Redx Pharma就从AIM退市。董事会认为，作为一家私营公司，私有化可以接触到更广泛的专业投资者。后续交易就放在了JP Jenkins上。 ReNeuron ReNeuron最初是一家干细胞治疗公司，2022年年初，该公司突然改变了战略开发方向，停止了治疗色素性视网膜炎的干细胞疗法，以将其资源集中在其外泌体平台和相关合作上。 这一决定其实并不意外，2019年这一疗法披露临床时的数据就不怎么好看，22年年初的决定算是比较正确的。 不过，22年初的战略方向更改并不能挽回22年年底的颓势，该公司在22年12月宣布融资失败，裁员40%，来应对现金流压力。这次削减让公司的现金流赛道延长到了今年。 而到了今年，现金流压力也终于给到。 公司管理层目前正在与ReNeuron的债权人商谈，以确定该企业的偿付能力。一旦相关洽谈结束，公司管理层将与董事会一起决定下一步措施。大概率会退出AIM市场，并私有化。 e-therapeutics e-therapeutics是一家小核酸药物的AI发现公司，持有RNAi化学开发平台GalOmic和HepNet计算平台，目前处于IND阶段的管线是：用于MASH的ETX-312，用于干性AMD的ETX-407，目前管线相对处于早期。 虽然没有什么负面消息，但e-therapeutics离开AIM时颇有怨言，CEO当时就指出，英国投资者的风险偏好意味着“ETX等公司在AIM市场的受众有限。” 总结 除了上述提及的退市公司意外，其他的离场者还有Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies和Destiny Pharma等等。 城市晨报指出，现金从专注于英国的股票基金中流出，仅2023年就损失了140亿英镑。这拖累了较小的公司，引起了踩踏事件，更令人担忧的是，如果没有足够的资本流入市场，未来进入AIM市场的资本只会越来越少，一些公司股价也会越来越低。 城市晨报认为，问题可能在于运营模式，AIM似乎仍然在用30年前的上市模式，上市花费过高，上市将花费约50万英镑，RNS公告费、法律费用和其他费用每年增加约20万英镑。 鉴于在AIM上市的约400家公司市值低于5000万英镑，这对英国的小企业来说是一个高昂的代价。 Biotech出现退市潮毫不让人意外。

Company is advancing mitochondriotropic therapeutic pipeline for rare neuromuscular disorders and neurodegenerative diseasesOXFORD, United Kingdom, March 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MitoRx Therapeutics (MitoRx), a biotechnology company developing novel therapeutics that reverse mitochondrial dysfunction to arrest the progression of degenerative diseases, announces the appointment of four distinguished international experts to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB): Caroline Le Guiner PhD, Milos Filipovic PhD, Professor Phil Hansbro PhD, and Professor Annemieke Aartsma-Rus. Dr. Jon Rees, Chief Executive Officer of MitoRx, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Le Guiner, Dr. Filipovic, Professor Hansbro, and Professor Aartsma-Rus, to our Scientific Advisory Board. These accomplished scientists bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in gene therapy, chemical biology, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and respiratory research, bolstering our efforts in developing transformative treatments for degenerative diseases with the world's only mitochondrial platform restoring sulfide-signaling." Dr. Caroline Le Guiner is a renowned preclinical expert and team leader at the TaRGeT lab (Translational Research for Gene Therapy, INSERM, Nantes Université and University Hospital of Nantes) in Nantes, France, who has over two decades of experience in translational research focused on gene therapy for rare muscular diseases, playing a pivotal role in coordinating international networks aimed at developing therapeutic solutions for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Dr. Milos Filipovic is a distinguished researcher with expertise in chemical biology who brings his wealth of experience in cysteine post-translational modifications and their implications in aging and aging-associated diseases. Having led research groups at prestigious institutions such as the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the Leibniz Institute for Analytical Sciences in Dortmund, Dr. Filipovic's insights will be invaluable in advancing MitoRx's understanding of redox changes in cellular signaling. Professor Phil Hansbro is a globally recognized authority in respiratory research. As Director of the Centenary/UTS Centre for Inflammation, he has made significant contributions to the identification of novel treatments for chronic lung diseases. His extensive publication record and track record in securing research funding underscore his expertise in this field. He led the presentation of research at the 10th Annual Meeting of the International Cytokine and Interferon Society which showed MitoRx’s compounds provided an anti-fibrotic effect and preserved lung function in a COPD model. Professor Annemieke Aartsma-Rus is professor of translational genetics at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). She has a visiting professorship at the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Center at the UK’s Newcastle University. In 2016 & 2017 she was elected as the most influential scientist in the field of Duchenne muscular dystrophy based on publications of the past decade. In 2014 she was accepted in the Jonge Akademie (Dutch Royal Academy of Sciences), consisting of the 50 most prominent scientists of under 45. The company’s first-in-class mitochondriotropic therapeutic pipeline is aimed at restoring the function of sulfide-signaling, which targets mitochondria dysfunction linked to the progression of rare diseases such as the neuromuscular disorder DMD, the neurodegenerative disorder Huntington’s disease (HD), and has also been implicated in common neurodegenerative diseases. The Company’s promising preclinical results validate its platform in a mammalian model of severe neuromuscular disease, which is extendable to other degenerative diseases, and additional evidence has been generated in a mammalian respiratory disease model through its academic collaborators. A recent seed extension financing round was backed by a broad range of investors, and the company expects to see preclinical readouts in DMD and HD by the end of Q2 2024. Company Contact (MitoRx) Jon Rees, CEO Email: jon.rees@mitorxtherapeutics.com Phone: +44(0)7826 556622 Media Contact (Scius Communications) Katja Stout, Managing Partner Email: katja@sciuscommunications.com Phone: +44(0)7789 435990 About MitoRx Therapeutics At MitoRx our mission is to become the leading global developer of medicines arresting the progression of degenerative diseases driven by mitochondrial dysfunction. We are a preclinical stage biotechnology company developing our first-in-class first-in-target, orally delivered, mitochondriotropic therapeutics targeting rare neuromuscular disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Located in Harwell, Oxford, we have raised £4m seed financing from investors including the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund, Wren Capital, Longevitytech.fund, the Fink Family Office, the Science Angel Syndicate Network, Oxford Technology Management, as well as angel investors. For more information visit our website at www.mitorxtherapeutics.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

OXFORD, United Kingdom, Dec. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MitoRx Therapeutics (MitoRx), a biotechnology company developing novel therapeutics that reverse mitochondrial dysfunction to arrest the progression of degenerative diseases, announces the final close of its seed extension financing round, with £4m raised to date from existing investors. The company’s first-in-class therapeutic pipeline targets mitochondria dysfunction linked to the progression of rare diseases such as the neuromuscular disorder Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the neurodegenerative disorder Huntington’s disease (HD), and also implicated in common neurodegenerative diseases. The Company has promising preclinical results, which validate its platform in a mammalian model of severe neuromuscular disease. The platform is extendable to other degenerative diseases, and additional evidence has been generated in a mammalian respiratory disease model through its academic collaborators. Dr. Jon Rees, Chief Executive Officer of MitoRx, said, “Degenerative diseases place great burdens on patients and healthcare systems. We are the first biotech to reverse the impairment in sulfide-signaling driving mitochondrial dysfunction, which underlies the pathophysiology of degenerative disease in muscular dystrophy as well as the dementias. Our approach has the potential to finally address the huge unmet clinical need in these diseases. This seed extension financing round enables us to advance a lead asset toward the clinic and provides a firm foundation to secure a Series A to take us to the clinic within two years. We are also seeking partners to develop our assets which demonstrate anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties in COPD and other respiratory diseases.” Oliver Sexton, Investment Director at the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund, said, “MitoRx’s approach to mitochondrial dysfunction will potentially develop a treatment for degenerative diseases that have a hugely harmful impact. Such diseases affect both young and elderly patients who desperately need more treatment options. UKI2S is delighted to continue supporting MitoRx’s development.” MitoRx’s Chief Development Officer, Dr Christine Charman, said, “Interim results in our Duchenne program demonstrate that our muscle-penetrative lead asset preserves strength in oxidative muscle, and confirms mitochondrial modulation. These results will be presented at the Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinical and Scientific Conference in Orlando during March 2024.” MitoRx’s academic founder, and Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Matt Whiteman of the University of Exeter and collaborators, led by Prof Phil Hansbro at Australia’s Centenary/UTS Centre for Inflammation, published an abstract at the 10th Annual Meeting of the International Cytokine and Interferon Society, on research which demonstrated anti-fibrotic activity and confirmed the preservation of lung function in a model of COPD (1). Prof Whiteman and collaborators have previously demonstrated neuroprotection in a mammalian model of Alzheimer’s disease, through the restoration of sulfide-signalling (2). This seed extension financing round was backed by a broad range of investors including the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund, Wren Capital, Longevitytech.fund, The Fink Family Office, the Science Angel Syndicate Network, Oxford Technology Management, as well as angel investors. It will be used to fund pre-clinical work in HD, the activation of the company’s first neurodegenerative disease program, and to explore research collaborations and partnerships. The company expects to see preclinical readouts in DMD, HD, and COPD, by the end of Q2 2024. References (1) Sept 2022 - 10th Annual Meeting of the International Cytokine and Interferon Society (Abstract LB-34, pg 249). https://hawaii.cytokinesociety.org/book-of-abstracts/ (2) January 2021 - Hydrogen sulfide is neuroprotective in Alzheimer’s disease by sulfhydrating GSK3β and inhibiting Tau hyperphosphorylation. Giovinazzo et al. PNAS. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2017225118 Media Contact (Scius Communications) Katja Stout, Email: katja@sciuscommunications.com Phone: +44(0)7789 435990 Company Contact (MitoRx) Jon Rees, CEO Email: jon.rees@mitorxtherapeutics.com Phone: +44(0)7826 556622 About MitoRx Therapeutics At MitoRx our mission is to become the leading global developer of medicines arresting the progression of degenerative diseases driven by mitochondrial dysfunction. We are a preclinical stage biotechnology company developing our first-in-class first-in-target, orally delivered, mitochondrial protective therapeutics targeting rare neuromuscular disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Located in Harwell, Oxford, we have raised £4m seed financing from investors including the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund, Wren Capital, Longevitytech.fund, the Fink Family Office, the Science Angel Syndicate Network, Oxford Technology Management, as well as angel investors. For more information visit our website at www.mitorxtherapeutics.com and follow us on LinkedIn. About UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) UKI2S is a national seed investment fund that nurtures innovative businesses from great UK science to leverage private investment and grow jobs. The Fund is backed by UKRI, Dstl and other public bodies and is independently managed by specialist venture capital firm Midven, part of Future Planet Capital, the impact-led, global venture capital firm built to invest in high-growth potential companies from the world’s top research centres. UKI2S provides the patient, long-term committed capital, and strategic advice these companies need to flourish. Over the past decade and more, the fund has built a substantial track record of companies that between them have attracted over £600m of later stage investment. Learn more at https://ukinnovationscienceseedfund.co.uk/.