Company Directory

Biodiversity-derived protein data and AI models for biological design

Basecamp Research is a London-based biotech company that collects biological samples from extreme environments across more than 26 countries, building a proprietary metagenomic database of over ten billion novel protein sequences from more than one million previously unrecorded species. This dataset trains large AI foundation models for designing novel proteins and genetic medicines. The company partners with pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and industrial organisations under ethically-sourced biodiversity agreements.

Generative AI platform for TCR therapy design and immune repertoire analysis

Synteny Biotechnology is a biotechnology company developing a platform that combines high-throughput TCR-antigen data generation with generative AI to design precision T cell receptor therapies for cancer. The platform addresses a critical bottleneck in the field, namely the scarcity of paired TCR-epitope interaction data, using protein language models to engineer TCRs with improved tumour specificity and reduced cross-reactivity. The company applies this platform to an internal pipeline of TCR bispecific therapeutic candidates.

AI-designed protein fibres as sustainable alternatives to synthetic textiles

Solena Materials is an industrial biotechnology company developing a new class of protein-based fibres for the fashion and performance apparel sectors. Using proprietary deep learning models and computational protein design, the company engineers novel proteins from first principles, which are then produced using engineered microorganisms. The resulting fibres are biodegradable and free of petrochemical inputs, targeting both luxury and high-performance textile applications.

Infectious disease antigens and antibodies for diagnostics and research

The Native Antigen Company is a manufacturer of native and recombinant antigens, antibodies, and immunoassays for viral and bacterial infectious disease targets. Products are supplied to IVD manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and academic institutions for use in immunoassay development, serology, vaccine research, and quality control. Contract services include custom antigen manufacture, antibody generation, and assay development using a proprietary mammalian cell expression system for native-like protein production.

ECM-targeted drug discovery platform for fibrosis and solid tumours

Engitix is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company developing therapeutics that target the extracellular matrix (ECM) in fibrosis and solid tumours. Its proprietary discovery platform integrates one of the largest ECM bioarchives with AI and machine learning to identify disease-specific targets and biomarkers. Internal programmes target fibro-inflammatory diseases and solid tumours, with partnered drug discovery collaborations with Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Dompé farmaceutici. Engitix was spun out of University College London's Institute for Liver and Digestive Health.

Bio-inspired adhesion peptides for medical and industrial use

Zentraxa is a biomaterials company engineering bio-inspired adhesion peptides using a proprietary synthetic peptide manufacturing platform. Inspired by marine mollusc chemistry, the platform designs and produces novel peptides with exceptional adhesion properties in wet and submerged environments. Medical applications include advanced wound dressings and ostomy bag seals. The company also develops performance-enhancing peptide ingredients for industrial and personal care sectors.

Microgravity-based CDMO platform for crystallisation of biologic drugs

BioOrbit is a biotech developing a proprietary hardware platform for the crystallisation of protein-based biologic drugs in low Earth orbit. The company exploits the absence of gravity-driven convection in microgravity to produce larger, more uniform protein crystals than ground-based methods allow, enabling high-concentration, low-viscosity formulations suitable for subcutaneous delivery. It is targeting monoclonal antibodies as its primary application, with its first orbital payload delivered in 2024.

Enzymatic wound debridement therapy derived from maggot biology

SolasCure is a biotechnology company developing a recombinant enzyme-based hydrogel for the treatment of chronic wounds. The lead product contains a protease cloned from medical maggots that degrades non-viable wound tissue including fibrin, elastin, and collagen to prepare the wound bed for healing. The product is in Phase II clinical development for venous leg ulcers, with anti-biofilm activity as a secondary indication under investigation.

Directed evolution platform engineering microbes for industrial biomanufacturing

Evolutor is a biotechnology company developing directed evolution technologies to enhance microbial performance for industrial biomanufacturing. Its proprietary genetic toolbox links bacterial cell fitness to recombinant protein production rates, generating evolved production strains with substantially improved protein titres. The company offers co-development partnerships and licensing of pre-evolved chassis microbes, and is building towards an automated evolutionary biofoundry integrating genetic engineering, custom hardware, and generative AI.

Benchtop platform for rapid cell-free protein expression and screening

Nuclera is a Cambridge-based biotechnology company developing benchtop systems for rapid protein expression and screening. Its discovery platform integrates cell-free protein synthesis, digital microfluidics, and automated construct screening to deliver soluble, active proteins in under 48 hours. The system is designed to accelerate protein-dependent workflows in drug discovery, biologics development, and research, reducing the time and cost traditionally associated with protein expression and purification.

Speciality enzyme discovery, development, and commercial-scale manufacture

Biocatalysts is a Welsh industrial biotechnology company specialising in the discovery, development, and commercial-scale manufacture of speciality enzymes. Operating from fermentation and downstream processing facilities in Nantgarw, the company serves food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and life science industries with both catalogue enzyme products and bespoke custom development services. Its metagenomics platform supports novel enzyme discovery. Biocatalysts is a wholly owned subsidiary of BRAIN Biotech AG and holds multiple international quality and food safety certifications.

Nanopore platform for single-molecule full-length protein sequencing

Portal Biotech is a biotechnology company developing benchtop nanopore instruments for single-molecule proteomics and metabolomics. Its platform uses bioengineered nanopores coupled with machine learning to sequence intact, full-length proteins at the single-molecule level, capturing protein mutations, modifications and heterogeneity in real time. Evolved from over a decade of academic nanopore research in the Maglia Lab at the University of Groningen, the technology targets drug discovery, diagnostics and biosecurity applications.