GM&C Life Sciences Fund

ScubaTx is a company focused on developing an advanced organ preservation system that utilizes the Persufflation method, a well-established technique aimed at enhancing organ transportation. By leveraging innovative software design, ScubaTx aims to provide significant cost savings for healthcare providers, thereby facilitating an expanded supply of viable organs for transplantation. The company’s technology is designed to protect and improve the condition of grafts during the preservation process, ultimately empowering clinicians worldwide to increase the availability of life-saving organs.

Monument Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing drugs for treating serious diseases of the central nervous system. Its innovative approach employs proprietary digital biomarkers to reduce patient heterogeneity, enabling more targeted neuroscience drug development in areas with unmet medical needs.

QV Bioelectronics develops an innovative electric field therapy implant, GRACE, designed to extend the lives of brain tumor patients while maintaining their quality of life. This first-of-its-kind device targets glioblastoma, a cancer with poor outcomes, by slowing tumor growth and sparing healthy tissue.

Flynotes is a digital consent platform aimed at enhancing patient safety in healthcare. The platform assists both patients and doctors by streamlining the consent process. It guides individuals through obtaining consent while tailoring information to suit their specific health conditions and statuses. This functionality allows healthcare providers to save time and improve efficiency in clinical practices, ensuring that consent is obtained more effectively and accurately.

Panthera Biopartners Limited is an independent site management organization based in Preston, United Kingdom, with additional locations in Manchester, London, and Glasgow. Established in 2018, the company specializes in recruiting patients for clinical trials across a diverse range of therapeutic areas, including cardiac disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, allergies, migraine, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), oncology, and neurology. Panthera Biopartners operates with a team of experts dedicated to managing clinical trial processes on behalf of pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations, ensuring effective patient recruitment and trial execution.

CroBio Ltd is an agricultural biotechnology company that focuses on developing innovative solutions to enhance water retention in soil, particularly in the face of global agricultural drought. Founded in 2019 and based in Macclesfield, United Kingdom, the company specializes in genetically engineered root-associated bacteria that create a self-sustaining, biologically active material capable of improving soil health. By harnessing expertise in microbiology and engineering, CroBio aims to provide environmentally sustainable solutions that address the challenges of water scarcity in agriculture.

Pencil Biosciences is focused on advancing gene-editing technology through the development of a novel, programmable genome-modulation platform. This innovative approach seeks to address the limitations of existing gene-editing technologies, providing new therapeutic options for patients with rare diseases. By enhancing the precision and efficacy of genome modulation, Pencil Biosciences aims to facilitate a wide range of applications in the medical field, ultimately supporting healthcare professionals in overcoming the challenges associated with traditional gene-editing methods.

AMR Centre Limited, established in 2016 and headquartered in Macclesfield, UK, specializes in the development of novel antibiotics to combat antimicrobial resistance. The company offers its expertise and facilities to global pharmaceutical entities on a collaborative basis, with an agreement to share commercially in any successful new products resulting from these partnerships.

Clin-e-Cal is an innovative company that specializes in developing digital applications aimed at helping young children manage their inhaler use effectively. The platform features interactive games designed to improve inhaler technique and medication compliance for children experiencing wheezing or asthma symptoms. Utilizing a patented sound analysis technology, Clin-e-Cal's applications provide real-time sound responses that guide users in the correct use of inhalers. By incorporating gamification techniques and play-related nudges, the company engages children in a fun and educational way, helping them become more comfortable with inhaler use and mask fittings.

Biorelate Ltd., founded by Daniel Jamison in 2014, is a biomedical research company based in Oldham, United Kingdom. The company specializes in providing services for the development of biomarkers aimed at diagnosing prostate cancer, validating targets, and advancing new drug development. Biorelate's platform curates biomedical knowledge to support innovations in biotechnological research, offering functions such as auto-curating valuable data from various text sources and automatically ingesting information to identify causal interactions between genes, chemicals, drugs, cells, and phenotypes. This enables scientists to conduct more efficient research in drug discovery, cancer diagnosis, and target validation.

Nexus Labs is a new video learning platform for medical students and residents. Surgical training supplements medical school curricula by combining real-world video footage, CGI animations, and user performance statistics. It helps students prepare for exams as well as life as a doctor.

CLYZ Labs Limited, founded in 2017 and based in England, specializes in developing the Cancertain™ Assay, a testing service designed to determine the most effective drug therapy for personalized cancer treatment. The company utilizes 3D cell culture techniques to analyze the drug sensitivity of a patient's own tumor cells, integrating this information with biomarker and treatment guidelines. By providing tailored treatment recommendations, CLYZ Labs aims to improve patient outcomes, enhance life expectancy, and reduce healthcare costs through more effective treatment selection.

Renephra Ltd., established in 2009 and headquartered in Manchester, UK, is a medical device company specializing in controlled fluid removal from the skin. Its core product employs Transdermal Fluid Removal (TFR) technology, combining micro-needles with negative pressure therapy to enable minimally invasive extraction of excess interstitial fluid. Renephra targets fluid overload and chronic oedema/lymphoedema in vascular, oncology, and other disease areas, addressing significant unmet clinical needs in an estimated £1 billion global market.

Maxwellia specializes in converting prescription drugs into over-the-counter versions. Founded in 2013, it offers services such as SwitchScreen for opportunity assessment, SwitchUp for switch design and risk mitigation, and SwitchAbility for process support.

Manchester Imaging is a dental diagnostic software company spun out from the University of Manchester that applies computer vision and machine learning to dental imaging to enable early detection of tooth decay and other oral health issues. Its software portfolio includes CARIESDENT for detecting decay, OSTEODENT for assessing osteoporosis risk from panoramic X-rays, and DENTAL IMPLANT ADVISOR 1 and 2 to assist dentists with implant planning and patient-specific considerations in complex cases. The tools aim to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes while reducing unnecessary dental restorations, and the company serves customers worldwide from its base in Manchester, United Kingdom.

Acea Health is a digital healthcare company developing an application called Flynotes - a new digital consent platform. Flynotes analyses a number of factors, including the patient’s background, to deliver personalised risks and benefits. Flynotes aims to be the go-to solution for consent in healthcare. .

Founded in 2010, SurgaColl Technologies Ltd. is a medical devices company based in Cork, Ireland. It specializes in developing novel tissue regeneration products for the surgical treatment of bone, cartilage, and other human tissue diseases. The company's products, HydroxyColl and ChondroColl, are bioactive scaffolds designed to support the body's natural healing processes.

metaLinear Ltd. is a biotechnology company based in Alderley Edge, United Kingdom, that specializes in engineering microbial proteomes to discover novel drug targets for difficult-to-treat bacterial infections. Incorporated in 2016, metaLinear employs a proprietary proteome engineering platform that utilizes extensive libraries of randomized proteins to screen for new antibiotic targets. This innovative approach allows the company to identify, characterize, and validate targets efficiently, significantly reducing risks associated with traditional drug discovery processes. By streamlining the identification of key enzymes and proteins, metaLinear aims to facilitate the development of new microbial drugs, ultimately addressing critical challenges in the fight against antibiotic-resistant infections.

Gendius Ltd. is a company based in Macclesfield, United Kingdom, founded in 2011 by Chris Genders and Rory Cameron. It specializes in developing an app-based platform designed to assist individuals living with diabetes. The company's flagship product, Intellin, leverages a patient's clinical history to identify unique high-risk areas for potential complications related to diabetes. By doing so, Intellin aims to empower users with clinically validated tasks and measures tailored to their specific risks, helping them manage their condition more effectively and reduce the likelihood of complications.

Elucid mHealth Limited is a medication technology company based in Manchester, United Kingdom, established in 2013. The company specializes in developing adherence monitoring tools and a virtual health platform designed to enhance the efficiency of clinical trials. Its flagship product, Pill Connect, enables trial organizers to access real-time data on medication adherence, helping to prevent missed doses and ensuring protocol compliance. The system facilitates engagement measurements and automated dose reconciliation, thereby improving overall clinical trial outcomes and patient adherence. Elucid mHealth is committed to leveraging innovative technology to support healthcare providers and enhance patient care.

Cytox Limited is a company focused on developing innovative products and services for the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Alzheimer's disease. Established in 2004 and headquartered in Birmingham, UK, with additional offices in Manchester and Oxford, Cytox has created a genetic-based blood test that assesses the risk and early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, which currently affects millions worldwide. The company employs cellular and genetic assays to identify early cell cycle deficits in patients, aiding pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in clinical trials and drug development for Alzheimer's and mild cognitive impairment. Cytox's strategic partnership with Affymetrix, part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, enhances its capabilities in delivering these assessments and supporting the development of novel therapeutics.

Proveca Ltd. is a pharmaceutical company based in Daresbury, United Kingdom, founded in 2010. The company specializes in identifying, researching, and licensing off-patent medicines aimed at addressing unmet medical needs, particularly within the pediatric market. Proveca's product portfolio includes formulations for conditions such as sialorrhoea, epilepsy, heart failure, and acute pain management. By developing the necessary clinical data and formulations, Proveca aims to secure Paediatric Use Marketing Authorisation (PUMA), which provides a decade of market protection, along with the potential to obtain Orphan Drug status for additional market exclusivity. The company seeks to commercialize its licensed medicines or sell licenses to larger pharmaceutical firms, ensuring that essential treatments are accessible to children in appropriate formats.

The co-founders have demonstrated strong entrepreneurship having developed the blister prevention technology based on their own needs. The co-founders made multiple iterations of prototype patches engaging with experts in material science and podiatry to optimise the technology and demonstrate effectiveness in sportsmen and soldiers susceptible to foot blisters. Their drive to commercialise the technology has also attracted two industry experts who have joined the team to further develop and clinically test the patches in medical indications.

AMR Centre Limited, established in 2016 and headquartered in Macclesfield, UK, specializes in the development of novel antibiotics to combat antimicrobial resistance. The company offers its expertise and facilities to global pharmaceutical entities on a collaborative basis, with an agreement to share commercially in any successful new products resulting from these partnerships.

Founded in 2008 and based in Alderley Edge, UK, Apex Molecular specializes in providing chemistry development services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and applied chemistry sectors. The company offers laboratory-scale synthesis services, including high potency synthesis and custom/contract synthesis.

SwabTech Ltd is a UK-based medical device company that originated from the National Health Service (NHS) to create an innovative solution for blood recovery in surgical settings. The company specializes in the development of an automated Surgical Swab Washer designed to improve the effectiveness of intraoperative cell salvage. This device automates the extraction of blood from surgical swabs used during procedures characterized by significant blood loss. By facilitating the recovery and reuse of this blood, SwabTech's technology supports autologous transfusions at the point of need, thereby enhancing patient outcomes and offering a cost-effective approach to managing surgical blood loss. The patented design of the Surgical Swab Washer aims to streamline a process traditionally performed by hand, ensuring that surgeons have timely access to critical resources during emergencies.

ViroStatics is a small pharmaceutical company that develops novel compounds for a multifaceted treatment of cancers and viral diseases, focusing on novel, selective, host cell kinase targeted inhibitors. The Company has developed a robust pipeline of proprietary compounds to distinguish themselves from the competition through their unique kinase selectivity, efficacy and safety profiles. The Team and Advisors combines scientific, business, legal, and technology expertise, spanning the entire process of drug development from translational science through preclinical and clinical drug development.

Blueberry Therapeutics Ltd. is a pharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for diseases where infection and inflammation play significant roles, particularly in dermatological disorders. Founded in 2011 and based in Alderley Edge, United Kingdom, the company utilizes a proprietary nano polymer drug delivery platform to enhance the efficacy of its treatments. Blueberry Therapeutics specializes in formulating candidate drugs that address conditions such as atopic dermatitis, acne, and wound healing, while also targeting inflammatory bowel disease. By employing advanced preclinical research technologies, the company aims to create safe and effective medicines that address critical healthcare needs and improve patient outcomes. Through its commitment to well-validated drug targets and a focus on minimizing toxicity, Blueberry Therapeutics seeks to reduce the risk of drug failures during clinical development.

Biorelate Ltd., founded by Daniel Jamison in 2014, is a biomedical research company based in Oldham, United Kingdom. The company specializes in providing services for the development of biomarkers aimed at diagnosing prostate cancer, validating targets, and advancing new drug development. Biorelate's platform curates biomedical knowledge to support innovations in biotechnological research, offering functions such as auto-curating valuable data from various text sources and automatically ingesting information to identify causal interactions between genes, chemicals, drugs, cells, and phenotypes. This enables scientists to conduct more efficient research in drug discovery, cancer diagnosis, and target validation.

Pronec Ltd seeks to develop a new class of cancer therapy that causes tumours to simply die, using proprietary peptides. The Company has identified a lead candidate molecule that causes necrosis of a wide range of tumour cell lines in culture, but does not affect normal cell lines. Cancer cell necrosis refers to death of cancer cells within a tumour. This new class of compounds is protected by GB and international patent applications.

Kanichi Research Services specializes in developing innovative non-invasive diagnostic systems that analyze exhaled breath to facilitate the rapid detection and diagnosis of various diseases. The company’s flagship product is a cost-effective, disposable point-of-care test designed to identify Helicobacter Pylori, a bacterial infection associated with stomach ulcers and cancer. In addition to its diagnostic offerings, Kanichi Research Services manufactures bespoke electrochemical components, including custom-made electrodes, which enhance advanced sensor systems. These components enable the detection of a wide array of chemical and biological molecules across air, breath, and liquid media.

Backpain Help specializes in providing high-quality products designed to support the neck and back, alleviate pain, and improve posture. The company offers a range of innovative and award-winning products, including posture and neck braces, back support, neck support collars, and insoles for overpronation. These products are intended to help individuals manage various conditions such as sciatica, back pain, disc pain, and injuries to the knees and ankles. Headquartered in Altrincham, Cheshire, with additional offices in the USA and Hong Kong, Backpain Help's offerings are utilized in over 50 countries worldwide, reflecting its commitment to helping individuals lead full, pain-free lives.

Arlabion Ltd is an agri-tech company based in Huddersfield, United Kingdom, that specializes in developing innovative agrochemicals aimed at sustainable crop management. Founded in 2014, Arlabion focuses on creating seed treatments that protect crops from fungal infections and enhance the plant's immune system. Their technology not only promotes improved seed germination and root system development but also minimizes the risk of fungal diseases threatening essential food crops. By leveraging established organic chemistry techniques traditionally used in human and animal healthcare, Arlabion addresses the growing demand for safer and less harmful solutions in agriculture. The company's commitment to developing effective, environmentally friendly crop protection products positions it within a dynamic and expanding market.