NanoSyrinx, a synthetic biology company developing nanosyringes as a novel platform for targeted intracellular delivery of biologic therapeutics, has closed a c. £10 million (c. $13 million) financing round.

PhoreMost Ltd, a leading UK biopharmaceutical company unlocking the next generation of drug targets, has added USD $12 million to its Series B financing, bringing the total raised to over $50 million. The additional investment was led by Parkwalk Advisors, the largest growth EIS fund manager, with participation from existing investors BGF, Dr Jonathan Milner, Amadeus Capital and Astellas Venture Management, and will support the progression of PhoreMost's pipeline of novel degrader assets.

SOLASTA Bio, a leading agri-biotech company specialising in the next generation of green insecticides, has completed an oversubscribed $14 million Series A funding round to accelerate the development of its unique peptide-based, nature-inspired bioinsecticides - the first of their kind to be developed worldwide.

The investment round was led by Forbion via its BioEconomy fund strategy, with co-lead investment from agricultural strategics FMC Ventures (FMC Corporation) and Corteva Inc., through its Corteva Catalyst platform. Participation from existing investors included Cavallo Ventures (Wilbur-Ellis), Rubio Impact Ventures, Scottish Enterprise, UKi2S, SIS Ventures and University of Glasgow, bringing the total raised to date to $19 million. In the context of this round Joy Faucher from Forbion will join the company's board of directors.

University spin-out Awen Oncology has secured a substantial equity investment from the Development Bank of Wales and co-investors Start Codon, to further develop a breakthrough range of anti-cancer drugs that target a variety of cancer types. This brings the total funds raised by Awen Oncology to over £1 million.

Chromacity, a Scottish laser technology business, has secured over £1m of new funding from existing investors - Eos Advisory, Kelvin Capital and Scottish Enterprise - to support the launch of its latest ultrafast laser technology focussed on the healthcare market, and from the UK Government's Innovate UK programme to develop its technology for monitoring agricultural emissions.

4D Medicine – a UK company whose innovative biomaterial has potential to be used for a wide range of 3D printed implants and surgical devices - has raised £3.4m ($4.4m) in a Series A investment.  The funding round was led by Oshen Holdings and backed by DSW Ventures, SFC Capital, Boundary Capital and private investors including several leading scientists and surgeons. It will enable the company to complete pre-clinical testing of its first product range and seek FDA clearance for entry into the US market.

Global pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company has acquired Aparito, the Wrexham-based med-tech business set up by Dr Elin Haf Davies and part-funded by the Development Bank of Wales who now exit with an initial return of 2.9x on their £1.2 million equity investment.

The Development Bank of Wales has led a £1.75 million round in a biotech company currently working on demonstrating a new type of drug to treat cardiovascular disease. Argonaute RNA Ltd is a biotech business developing gene-targeting drugs to treat a rare form of heart disease called severe familial cholesterolaemia (or FH).  It has long-term plans to use similar drugs to tackle common conditions.

Amber Therapeutics (Tx), a start-up involving the University of Oxford, has just completed a $100 million Series A funding round from healthcare and technology investors in the US and UK to develop treatment for mixed urinary incontinence.

Animal Health Angels has invested in MI:RNA, the veterinary diagnostics company using cutting-edge technology and science to transform animal health diagnosis, as part of a $4 million in Series A funding round. 

Aiming to change the future of animal health treatments through improved, earlier diagnostics, the capital will be used to continue global growth plans and revolutionise animal health testing, improving diagnosis and wellness among the pet, agriculture and equine sectors. MI:RNA’s vision is to change the approach to disease diagnosis to improve animals’ outcomes. The merits of MI:RNA technology are scientifically reviewed and proven, winning numerous grants and awards.

USA: Central Texas Angel Network (CTAN) has announced the closing of its first investment of the year, with an investment over $500,000 in Endomedix, Inc., a medical technology company leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver unparalleled performance and safety in controlling surgical bleeding. Notably, CTAN's investment in Endomedix includes a substantial contribution from the CTAN Sidecar Fund.

Edinburgh-based 1nhaler, which is backed by Archangels, has appointed two experts in inhalation and respiratory medicines to the Board as it looks to accelerate the development and market-readiness of its novel single use inhaler device.