Cambridge Enterprise and Cambridge Innovation Capital both participated in the funding round, which is based on research at the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research.
Z Factor, a virtual biotechnology spinout of Cambridge University, closed a £7m ($9m) series A round yesterday that featured the institution’s tech transfer office Cambridge Enterprise and university venturing fund Cambridge Innovation Capital.
The round was led by venture capital firm Medicxi, which previously provided an undisclosed amount in seed capital.
Founded in 2015, Z Factor is developing drugs to treat Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency, which leads to liver and lung diseases such as emphysema, cirrhosis and cancer.
The spinout is based on research by Jim Huntington, professor of molecular haemostasis at the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research.
David Grainger, executive chairman of Z Factor and partner at Medicxi, said: “We are delighted to work once again with Cambridge Enterprise to ensure this exciting basic science is rapidly and efficiently translated into new medicines for a surprisingly common and debilitating cause of liver and lung disease.”
