Following a significant loan from the Development Bank of Wales, a north Wales company will save salmon farmers millions of pounds a year while simultaneously supporting efforts of superior sustainability practices. 

Ocean Matters, based at Penmon, Anglesey, is using a natural solution to fight the continuing biosecurity challenges associated with the parasites. It breeds lumpfish, a type of cleaner fish that feeds off sea lice and in doing so provides a cleaner growing environment for farmed salmon.  

Rinicare Limited, a leading intelligent healthcare company has announced the completion of its financing round by welcoming new investors Catapult Ventures and NPIF - Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia Fund Managers and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

The funding will be used to support the commercialisation of Rinicare’s digital healthcare portfolio, which is designed to provide solutions that improve outcomes and reduce costs in a number of settings such as emergency, primary and community care as well as progress its AI-powered predictive algorithm for intensive care.

The developers of a technology that helps clinicians and healthcare professionals to treat people suffering from sleeping problems more effectively has received two high-profile accolades.

Ziylo and Novo Nordisk A/S have announced that Novo Nordisk has acquired all of the shares of Ziylo, a University of Bristol spin-out company based at Unit DX science incubator in Bristol, UK. Ziylo has been pioneering the use of its platform technology – synthetic glucose binding molecules – for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. 

The acquisition gives Novo Nordisk full rights to Ziylo’s glucose binding molecule platform to develop glucose responsive insulins. The development of glucose responsive insulins is a key strategic area for Novo Nordisk in its effort to develop this next generation of insulin which would lead to a safer and more effective insulin therapy. A glucose responsive insulin would help eliminate the risk of hypoglycaemia, which is the main risk associated with insulin therapy and one of the main barriers for achieving optimal glucose control. Thus, a glucose responsive insulin could also lead to better metabolic control and thus overall reduce the burden of diabetes for people living with the disease.

Benjamin Matthews, Investment Manager at Heartwood Investment Management, gives his views on the emerging biotech opportunities arising from demographic shifts.

Arix Bioscience plc, a global healthcare and life science company supporting medical innovation, has announced that its Group Business Artios Pharma Limited, a leading DNA Damage Response (DDR) company developing innovative treatments for cancer, has completed an oversubscribed £65 million Series B financing following strong interest from investors.

UK agri-tech start-up PBD Biotech, developers of the first rapid test for live mycobacteria, has secured £400,000 in its first major strategic investment round to fund international trials and launch a suite of products.

Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. and TxCell S.A. have announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement on July 20, 2018 pursuant to which Sangamo will, following the completion of the contemplated acquisition of a majority stake of TxCell, file a simplified cash tender offer for the purchase of all then outstanding ordinary shares of TxCell, at a price of EUR 2.58 per share in cash, or approximately EUR 72 million, on a debt-free and cash-free basis. Subject to satisfaction of closing conditions (including in particular those relating to regulations governing foreign investments in France), Sangamo expects to complete the transaction in the fourth quarter of 2018.

snap40, an AI-enabled healthcare company with the mission to protect the health of every human being, today announced it has secured US $8 million in seed financing led by ADV, with participation from MMC Ventures. Total funding to date is US $10 million, and the latest investment is the largest seed financing round for a digital healthcare company in the U.K. snap40 monitors the human body in real-time using its wearable device, with accuracy equivalent to ICU monitoring. Using this real-time data, the company’s proprietary algorithms identify those whose health is at risk and proactively bring healthcare to them. Initially, snap40 is deploying this with top healthcare providers in the U.K. and the U.S.

A surgical and high-precision engineering company that provides  bespoke full jaw dental implant solutions in a day to patients  has received a £4m investment from BGF. London-headquartered Evo will use the funding to expand its clinics, which feature on-site dental laboratories with the latest hi-tech medical manufacturing technology across the UK and explore international growth.

Evo’s advanced, proprietary solution provides life changing treatment for patients suffering from severe dental problems caused by advanced gum disease, congenital bone loss or accidents, and who require a full jaw reconstruction. 

BGF has invested £5m growth capital in Alnwick-based pharmaceutical company Arcinova following a period of rapid growth and development at its life sciences super site in Alnwick, Northumberland. The company will use the funding to drive continued innovation as well as international expansion.

Univercells SA and Global Health Investment Fund have closed a €16 million ($18.8M) Series B equity financing. Investment proceeds will support the continued development of Univercells’ game-changing biomanufacturing technology, which has the potential to dramatically reduce the capital expenditure, physical footprint and operating costs required to produce a variety of complex biologics.