Revolver Therapeutics, a University of Bath spin-out developing a new class of cancer therapeutics, has secured £572,000 in its latest fundraise. The company focuses on treatments for colorectal cancer and aims to create a pipeline of new therapies.
Funding Details and Investor Support
The funding round was led by QantX, with follow-on investment from the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) managed by Future Planet Capital, and the University of Bath. The investment will support scientific work, including advancing preclinical studies and developing novel molecules that target cancer cells.
Scientific Breakthrough and Lab Results
Jody Mason, chief scientific officer of Revolver Therapeutics and professor of biochemistry at the University of Bath, said the funding was “a huge vote of confidence” in the team and the science. “We've already shown we can stop tumour cells growing in the lab while cracking the challenge of getting our molecules inside cells - a hurdle that has held this field back for years,” he said. The company has demonstrated that its molecules can enter cells and inhibit cancer growth, a significant advancement in targeting transcription factors.
Impact on Colorectal Cancer Treatment
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and current treatments often have limited efficacy. Revolver Therapeutics' approach targets transcription factors, proteins that regulate gene expression and are difficult to tackle with conventional drugs. The company plans to use the funding to expand its research and develop new treatments for patients in need.
Investor Perspectives
Richard Haycock, co-founder and chief executive of QantX, said Revolver could “open the door” to a whole new way of treating cancer and other hard-to-tackle diseases. “That's exactly the kind of hard science QantX exists to back,” he said. “They're a standout example of world-class innovation coming out of the South West of England, taking on one of the toughest challenges in cancer research.”
Oliver Sexton, investment director at UKI2S, managed by Future Planet Capital, added: “Revolver continues to pioneer an exciting new approach to cancer treatment by targeting transcription factors - proteins that have been tough to tackle in cancer research until now.”
University Support and Spin-Out Journey
Revolver Therapeutics was spun out of the University of Bath with support from the Technology Transfer team in Research and Innovation Services (RIS). The team helped translate Professor Mason's pioneering research into a commercial venture and continues to back the company as it grows. Jennifer Rogers, from the technology transfer team at RIS, said: “It's a wonderful example of how university research can grow into a company with the potential to change patients' lives, and we're proud to have supported the team on this journey from the very beginning.”
