New investment enables the scale-up of Celledonia platform to transform biologics development and manufacturing.
Cytomos, an Edinburgh-based biotech, has secured £5 million in funding to scale up production of its innovative cell-analysis platform, AuraCyt, and its first commercial product, Celledonia. The funding round was oversubscribed and led by Archangels, a prominent early-stage investor in Scottish life sciences and technology, with additional contributions from Old College Capital, Scottish Enterprise and the British Business Bank.
The new investment will drive the company’s efforts to commercialize Celledonia, a benchtop analyzer designed to optimize single-cell analysis. This technology aims to address significant challenges in the development and manufacturing of biologics, including high costs and the complexity of cell-derived medicines.
Longevity.Technology: The rising prevalence of age-related diseases, coupled with an increase in comorbidities, demands faster, cost-effective drug discovery and drug development methods; this is particularly critical for advanced modalities such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), T-cell immunotherapies and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are crucial in targeting diseases associated with aging, such as rheumatoid arthritis and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), by binding to specific proteins and modulating immune responses. For example, anti-VEGF mAbs like ranibizumab are already improving outcomes in AMD, while new candidates aim to target senescent cells and chronic inflammation, both hallmarks of aging.
T-cell immunotherapies, initially developed for oncology, are increasingly being explored for their role in managing age-related diseases. By enhancing or redirecting the immune system, these therapies show promise in combating autoimmune disorders and even addressing immune system decline – common challenges faced by older adults. Researchers are investigating CAR-T cell therapies for targeting senescent cells or rejuvenating immune responses to slow down systemic aging.
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generate many longevity headlines by providing a renewable source of patient-specific cells for regenerative medicine. iPSCs are being studied for their potential in treating degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, osteoarthritis – and even cardiac conditions caused by aging. Their ability to differentiate into various cell types opens doors to repairing damaged tissues and restoring function in age-related disorders.
Cytomos’ scalable tech could play a pivotal role in accelerating the development and manufacturing of these advanced modalities by providing real-time cellular insights, enabling data-driven decision-making that reduces the time-to-market for these therapies. By optimizing the development process, the technology can help deliver cost-effective solutions targeting diseases of aging, ultimately enhancing both longevity and healthspan.
David Rigterink, CEO of Cytomos, said: “Successfully raising £5 million within a difficult market has been a huge boost for the business. The result is testament to the team’s hard work in delivering our first commercial product with international early adopters.”
Addressing the needs of a rapidly evolving biopharma industry
The demand for innovative, cost-effective solutions in biologics development is pressing; complex modalities such as mAbs and iPSCs require real-time monitoring of cellular parameters to ensure quality and efficacy, but existing technologies often fail to provide timely insights, leading to costly delays or compromised data.
Cytomos’ AuraCyt platform aims to offer a scalable alternative, meaning researchers and manufacturers can analyze cellular physiology based on intrinsic single-cell properties, and enabling the discovery, development and manufacture of novel biologic therapies. By facilitating earlier, data-driven decisions, AuraCyt has the potential to reduce the time required to bring therapies to market by up to six months while lowering costs significantly.
Sarah Hardy, director and head of new investments at Archangels, said: “Cytomos has gone from strength to strength, achieving commercialisation earlier this year marks a critical inflection point for the business. With new premises secured and a robust plan to derisk the supply chain, we’re looking forward to helping David and the team scale their operations and secure access to new markets.”
Scaling operations and global ambitions
The company, which operates from new premises in Roslin, plans to increase its headcount over the coming year to support its growth. With trials lined up involving global partners, including a top 10 pharmaceutical company, Cytomos is now actively seeking co-development opportunities and exploring North American markets.
Celledonia, built on the AuraCyt platform, has already garnered significant interest due to its ability to enhance biologics research and development processes. The product’s real-time monitoring capabilities aim to address an unmet need for the biopharma sector and provide a vital tool for drug discovery and biologics manufacturing.
“Cytomos’ unique technology AuraCyt is an unbiased, scalable cell analysis platform which addresses this unmet need,” the company stated in a release. AuraCyt’s low-cost design and scalability allow it to perform single-cell measurements with precision, supporting the rapid development of advanced therapies.
Shaping the future of longevity-focused therapeutics
With the global biopharmaceutical market under increasing pressure to deliver innovative treatments faster and more affordably, Cytomos’ approach represents a step forward. By integrating real-time data analysis into biologics manufacturing, the company’s technology could significantly impact the development of therapies aimed at improving healthspan.
Rigterink emphasized the broader implications of the company’s advancements: “Cytomos now has the right building blocks in place to scale quickly, establish a foothold in the US, and continue developing our single cell analysis technology to support advancements in biological drug development and manufacturing automation.”
As the company moves forward, the scalability and accessibility of its platform might well attract further collaborations, particularly in the longevity and healthspan sector, where efficient drug development is a key priority.
