果冻影院

The oversubscribed Series B financing round was co-led by Jeito Capital, Ridgeback Capital Investments, SV Health Investors and Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC. Founding investor Syncona also participated in the financing round.

Quell was formed in 2019 by leading academics from 果冻影院, King鈥檚 College London and Hannover Medical School, including 果冻影院 Professors Hans Stauss and Emma Morris (both 果冻影院 Division of Infection & Immunity) 鈥� who have over fifteen years of experience in T cell engineering and gene therapy clinical trials.

The company was spun-out with support from 果冻影院 Business (果冻影院B), 果冻影院鈥檚 commercialisation company.

Quell is developing a Multi-Modular Engineered T Regulatory (Treg) Cell Therapy platform for transplantation, neuroinflammatory and autoimmune diseases, with the goal of enabling transplant patients and patients with autoimmune conditions to live without taking conventional immunosuppressive medication.

Professor Hans Stauss, Director of 果冻影院 Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, said: "It is exciting to work at the cutting edge of developing new life medicines for autoimmune conditions and for transplant patients.听

鈥淭he investment in Quell provides the opportunity to translate our research discoveries into new therapies for patients."

Professor Emma Morris, Director of 果冻影院 Division of Infection and Immunity, said: 鈥�The clinical use of genetically engineered immune cells over the last five years has transformed the management of many cancers and it is now time to test whether patients with other immune-mediated diseases can benefit from similar approaches.鈥�

Regulatory T Cells are known as the 鈥渕aster modulators鈥� of immune homeostasis, and are designed to suppress overactive immune responses, drive long-term tolerance in the local immune environment and promote tissue repair.

Quell鈥檚 versatile platform technology enables the company to design, engineer and manufacture therapeutic Treg products at scale.

Proceeds from the financing round will be used to fund the LIBERATE Phase 1/2 clinical trial of QEL-001. This is a first-in-class antigen-specific multi-modular CAR-Treg cell therapy candidate designed to prevent organ rejection in liver transplant patients by inducing durable immune tolerance and eliminating the need for lifelong immunosuppression.

Professor David Price, 果冻影院 Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement) said: 鈥淨uell鈥檚 innovative Treg cell therapy has the potential to materially transform patients鈥� lives. Going from bench to bedside in such a short amount of time is testament to what can be achieved through collaboration across institutions and borders.

鈥淚 commend the team of researchers, business development managers and investors whose hard work and commitment have brought Quell to this stage and wish them all the best for the future.鈥�

Luke Henry, Quell鈥檚 Chief Business Officer, said: 鈥淧atients who require liver transplants live on a cocktail of immunosuppressants for the rest of their lives.

鈥淏ecause the drugs are suppressing the entire immune system, over time that leads to increased rates of cancer and opportunistic infections, as well as cardiovascular issues and kidney problems associated with side effects of the immunosuppressant drugs themselves.

鈥淲e鈥檝e come a long way in two years, from selecting the first clinical candidate, to building out our manufacturing capability, getting the investment needed to grow the company and now being on the cusp of filing for regulatory approval to go into the clinic with our first programme.鈥�

果冻影院 spinouts and startups are not only helping to bring potentially life-changing treatments close to patients, they also help attract external investment into the UK, creating jobs and driving innovation. In 2019/20, 果冻影院 spinouts and startups employed over 3,000 people, and between 2018-2020 attracted over 拢1bn of external investment.

Links

• Innovation & Enterprise support for 果冻影院 staff
• 果冻影院 Division of Infection and Immunity
• 果冻影院 Medical Sciences

Image

• Research at 果冻影院 Cancer Institute:听Credit 果冻影院 Imagestore

Media Contact听

Poppy Danby

E: p.danby [at] ucl.ac.uk