Company Directory

Target discovery platform and antibody-based therapies for oncology

Oxford BioTherapeutics is an Oxford-based clinical-stage oncology company discovering and developing first-in-class antibody-based cancer therapies. Its proprietary platform identifies novel membrane protein targets directly from patient tumour samples, enabling the development of ADCs, immuno-oncology antibodies, T-cell engagers, and CAR-T targets. The company licenses discovered targets and development candidates to major pharmaceutical partners including Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche, GSK, and Boehringer Ingelheim.

Clinical-stage antibody-drug conjugate developer for cancer

Iksuda Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing antibody-drug conjugates for difficult-to-treat solid and haematological cancers. Its ADC platform combines proprietary stable bioconjugation chemistry with tumour-selective payload activation to improve therapeutic index. The company's lead candidate, IKS014, is a HER2-targeting ADC in Phase 1 clinical trials. Iksuda also develops novel payload classes including its first-in-class protein alkylating agents. The company operates from Newcastle Helix with additional facilities in the United States.

Antibody fragment drug conjugate platform for solid tumour oncology

Antikor Biopharma is a pre-clinical stage biotechnology company developing antibody fragment drug conjugates for the treatment of solid tumours. The company's proprietary platform uses smaller antibody fragments rather than whole antibodies to achieve improved tumour penetration and faster systemic clearance compared to conventional antibody-drug conjugates. Antikor's lead programme targets cMET-expressing solid tumours and has demonstrated efficacy and safety data in advanced pre-clinical models.

Glycan analysis products and services for biopharmaceutical QC

Ludger is a glycobiology company specialising in the measurement and characterisation of protein glycosylation for biopharmaceutical development and quality control. The company manufactures glycan analysis kits, reagents, and reference standards for use in LC, MS, and CE workflows, and provides contract analytical services and regulatory consulting to support IND submissions and comparability studies. Ludger's products are used in the quality control of FDA- and EMA-approved biopharmaceuticals and biosimilars worldwide.

Tumour-activated peptide drug conjugates for targeted oncology

Avacta Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing peptide drug conjugates designed to deliver toxic chemotherapy payloads selectively within the tumour microenvironment. The company's delivery approach uses a short engineered peptide that masks the active payload until it is cleaved by fibroblast activation protein, a protease concentrated in tumour-supporting cells. This mechanism concentrates drug activity at the tumour site while limiting systemic toxicity. Two candidates are currently in clinical development across multiple solid tumour indications.

Complex molecule synthesis and chemistry-driven cancer drug discovery

New Path Molecular Research is a Cambridge-based chemistry company spun out from the laboratory of Professor Steve Ley at the University of Cambridge. The company specialises in the synthesis of complex functional molecules, including natural products, macrocycles and peptides, using flow chemistry and machine-assisted synthesis techniques. Its current drug discovery programme centres on defensin-based bioconjugates designed to target phosphatidylserine on cancer cells, offering a genetic alteration-agnostic approach to tumour targeting.

Integrated drug discovery CRO from target to clinical candidate

Sygnature Discovery is a UK-headquartered integrated drug discovery contract research organisation. Operating from sites in Nottingham, Alderley Park, and Glasgow, the company provides end-to-end drug discovery services spanning target identification, medicinal chemistry, in vitro bioscience, structural biology, computational chemistry, DMPK, in vivo pharmacology, and drug formulation. Sygnature serves global pharma, biotech, and not-for-profit organisations, and has contributed to over 56 pre-clinical and 35 clinical compounds since its founding.

Clinical-stage company developing radioligand cancer therapies

Blue Earth Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies for cancer. Its pipeline centres on prostate-specific membrane antigen-targeted radioligand therapies using both beta- and alpha-emitting radionuclides, designed to deliver high radiation doses to tumour cells while minimising exposure to healthy tissue. Lead programmes for metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer are in Phase 2 clinical trials, with dosing initiated at UK NHS sites in 2026.

CDMO and CRO for complex biologics and bioconjugate development

Abzena is an integrated CDMO and CRO specialising in complex biologics and bioconjugates, with cGMP facilities across the United States and a research presence in Cambridge, UK. Its services span antibody discovery, cell line development, bioconjugation and GMP manufacturing across monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, bispecifics and fusion proteins, with site-specific conjugation technology enabling homogeneous conjugates with controlled drug-to-antibody ratios. Abzena serves biotech and pharmaceutical clients from discovery through commercial launch.

Contract antibody production, purification, and conjugation services

The Antibody Company is a contract research organisation specialising in the production, purification, and conjugation of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. The company serves diagnostics and therapeutics developers, offering hybridoma and phage display-based antibody generation, bulk manufacturing, FPLC purification, cell line development, and cryogenic cell banking. A Virtual Lab service provides integrated antibody R&D for early-stage companies without dedicated laboratory infrastructure.

AI-designed aptamer therapeutics for undruggable targets

PentaBind is a TechBio company using generative AI to design aptamers with drug-like properties for targets that are inaccessible to conventional modalities. Its platform combines proprietary datasets with wet-laboratory validation to deliver multi-attribute aptamer candidates in a fraction of the time and cost of traditional SELEX methods. The company focuses on oncology applications, including aptamer-drug conjugates, and offers AI-based aptamer design services to pharma and biotech partners.

Clinical-stage antibody-drug conjugate specialist targeting solid tumours

Pheon Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of antibody-drug conjugates for the treatment of solid tumours. The company combines monoclonal antibodies with proprietary cytotoxic payloads and linker technologies, taking a target-specific approach to optimising each construct for safety and efficacy. Its lead programme is a first-in-class ADC directed at a widely overexpressed solid tumour antigen, with additional programmes addressing the same target with distinct linker-payload combinations.