Autolus, a biotechnology firm focusing on oncology treatments through engineering T-Cells, has launched out of University College London with a £30m ($45m) series A round.
Syncona Partners, the Wellcome Trust’s £200m healthcare-focused evergreen fund, backed the round. Autolus will be focusing on the development and commercialisation of immunotherapies developed at the university. Similar to other disruptive oncology firms such as Juno Therapeutics, Kite Pharma, and Adaptimmune, Autolus is looking to utilise engineered T-Cells to target tumours.
Christian Itin, chairman of Autolus, said: “A key element of Autolus’ strategy is to progress CAR T-cell products quickly into clinical trials, leveraging our strong partnership with UCL. The company has engaged a team of thought-leading academics in London as advisors, and will perform its Phase 1 clinical studies and manufacturing within the academic infrastructure of the city, including the integrated cancer clinical trials infrastructure at University College Hospital and the expert cell therapy manufacturing facility at the UCL Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital.”