With support from Edinburgh Innovations, Pheno, a spin out from the University of Edinburgh has combined world-class clinical and drug discovery expertise, and is uniquely positioned to provide novel treatments that could halt the progression and alleviate the debilitating symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Image Expertise and world-class facilities Pheno Therapeutics exploits the peerless clinical insight and vast drug discovery expertise of its two distinguished founders. Professor Neil Carragher is a phenotypic screening pioneer with over 25 years of translational research experience from within the pharmaceutical industry and academia; Professor Sidharthan Chandran is a world-leading regenerative neurology specialist and Director of both Edinburgh Neuroscience and the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic. The founders’ joint skillset, their utilisation of Professor Carragher’s Phenomics Drug Discovery (PDD) platform, access to world-class facilities within the Edinburgh Medical School and support of the team at Edinburgh Innovations have combined to create the ideal conditions for accelerated novel discovery A regenerative approach to MS MS is a destructive and unpredictable chronic disease characterised by the immune system attacking and damaging the myelin sheaths that protect nerve cells in the central nervous system. It affects 2.5 million people worldwide and is the leading cause of disability in young people. Recently developed MS therapies can address the immune system aspects of the disease and reduce the frequency and severity of relapses, but no current treatments can halt disease progression or reverse on-going neurodegeneration. Pheno Therapeutics is poised to address that urgent and unmet clinical need. By employing the astounding capabilities of the PDD, and using a unique human stem cell model to identify novel remyelinating agents, the company aims to develop transformational therapeutics that repair damaged myelin sheaths, thus reversing the effects of the disease and significantly improving quality of life for MS patients. Support at every stage Pheno Therapeutics has been facilitated and championed from its inception by Edinburgh Innovations (EI). EI was instrumental in the formation of Pheno Therapeutics, helping to protect the intellectual property, shape original pitches, establish the scope of the company, and by introducing the academic founders to financial partner Advent Life Sciences to enable the launch of the spinout company. Since then, EI has continued to assist the company by negotiating all commercial, consultancy and license agreements, and by working in close partnership with both Pheno Therapeutics and its investors. If you are interested in how Edinburgh Innovations can support your research ambitions, please get in touch. Related Links Pheno Therapeutics Old College Capital This article was published on 2024-07-01
