University of Sussex and o2h Ventures Announce Creation and Investment in Stingray Bio, a Company for New Oncology Drugs Targeting the LMTK3 Kinase Pathway

3 years ago

April 2021, Cambridge, UK – o2h Ventures, a UK based fund manager through investment in its SEIS and EIS human health funds is excited to announce an investment into Stingray Bio Ltd, a new spin out from the University of Sussex supported by the Sussex Innovation Centre.

Stingray Bio is developing new novel small molecule inhibitors of the LMTK3 kinase signaling pathway to treat breast and other cancers. Stingray’s drug target rationale has been extensively validated by its founders, Professors Georgios Giamas and John Spencer of the University of Sussex.

Stingray Bio targets the neglected LMTK3 kinase signaling pathway: like many high-value treatments that target other cancer kinases, tool compound LMTK3 inhibitor drugs halt cancer growth and promote tumour regression in preclinical models. The investment will advance LMTK3 pathway modulation towards clinical application, creating valuable targeted medicines to expand treatment options for large numbers of cancer patients.

Sunil Shah, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of o2h Ventures, said: “We are delighted to be working with the University of Sussex and the founders to launch and grow Stingray Bio. We have been following the science for several years and we are now excited to support the commercialisation of the founder’s research to develop new drugs for cancer."

Sue Baxter, Director of Innovation and Business Partnerships at the University of Sussex, said: “We are very excited to see Stingray Bio launch and attract new investment. Leveraging years of R&D support by the University of Sussex, the company demonstrates our commitment to translating ground-breaking research into valuable new businesses that will benefit the world and rebuild our regional economy."

Peter Lane, Innovation Support Manager at Sussex Innovation, said: “It’s been tremendously rewarding to have worked closely with the University’s Innovation and Business Partnerships team and help broker this new relationship. Stingray Bio is a perfect example of the kind of enterprise we love to support, evolving a commercial model with the potential to deliver huge real-world impact from emerging research. We look forward to watching the rest of their journey as it develops from here.”

Georgios Giamas, Professor of Cancer Cell Signalling and Head of Department for Biochemistry and Biomedicine at the University of Sussex, said: “By founding and building Stingray Bio alongside my colleague Professor John Spencer, we have taken a critical next step towards exploiting our new discoveries in LMTK3 kinase signalling for the benefit of cancer patients.

"I look forward to supporting Stingray Bio as its Chief Scientific Advisor and Director, and anticipate the day when medicines targeting LMTK3 will be used to fight cancer and promote good health.”

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NOTES TO EDITORS

Stingray Bio Ltd

Stingray Bio, a biotechnology company headquartered in Sussex UK, is focused on the discovery and development of novel small molecule cancer therapeutics targeting the LMTK3 kinase signaling pathway. The LMTK3 kinase pathway has been extensively validated as an essential component of cancer survival and growth in breast and other common cancer types. The Company is developing novel drug inhibitors of LMTK3 kinase signalling towards diverse clinical applications. By targeting neglected but essential cancer kinases, the Company aims to generate next-generation oncology therapeutics for cancer patients.

o2h Ventures

The o2h human health SEIS Fund is the first SEIS fund in the UK solely focused on investing in SEIS qualifying seed stage companies covering novel drug discovery & AI, digital therapeutics and enabling services.
The o2h team are leaders in the biotech community and have been actively involved as investors, holding various board/industry positions as well as being engaged in grassroots scientific activity for over 20 years. o2h Ventures operates from their proprietary 2.7 acre Mill SciTech Park where they are developing a unique model for incubating small life science companies.

For more information about o2h Ventures, please visit www.o2hventures.com

University of Sussex

The University of Sussex has challenged convention since its foundation in 1961. From the campus’ modernist architecture on the edge of a rural national park, to our progressive academics and creative professional services staff, to the inspiring students who choose to learn and live here, to the very tone of the institution and the nature of its conversations, through to the expressions of radicalism, critical thinking and, at times, dissent.

The University of Sussex has a long tradition of experimentation and innovation that has made a real difference to the lives of many students, and those who benefit from our research and wider endeavours.
Our research creates new agendas, contributes new knowledge and provides new ideas and solutions that are helping to shape the world. We challenge conventional thinking and discourses, offering inspiring and creative ways to understand and solve global issues.
For more information, Visit www.sussex.ac.uk.

Sussex Innovation Centre (SINC)

The Sussex Innovation Centre (SINC) supports the creation and growth innovative new companies from its headquarters at the University of Sussex. For over 25 years, SINC has supported new ventures created to bridge inventive research around the University and greater Sussex innovation corridor.
For more information, please visit http://www.sinc.co.uk

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About o2h Ventures Limited

o2h Ventures Limited has launched the o2h Therapeutics and AI fund which is the first S/EIS fund in the UK solely focused on early stage biotech therapeutics and related AI opportunities. The geographic scope shall be UK wide including Oxford and London but will target the growing Cambridge biotech cluster. The Fund is structured to be S/EIS compliant providing tax breaks for UK taxpayers. The o2h team are leaders in the biotech community and have been actively involved as investors, holding various board/industry positions as well as being engaged in grassroots scientific activity for over 20 years. o2h operate from their proprietary 2.7 acre The Mill SciTech Park where they are developing a unique model for incubating small life science companies. For further information: www.o2h.com/ventures

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Ajit Singh

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ajit@o2h.com