Surface Therapeutics Ltd

1st January 2005

Surface Therapeutics Ltd, an Oxford University spin-out, is developing novel drugs and diagnostics for asthma, atopy and other epithelial-related diseases.

Surface Therapeutics Ltd is capitalizing on over 20 years of world leading research from Prof. William Cookson’s laboratory at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics. Prof. Cookson and Dr Moffat have discovered several key regulatory genes involved in asthma, eczema and atopic dermatitis and have over the years developed an in depth knowledge of the mechanisms involved in epithelial inflammation.

The company is rapidly developing drug therapies based on the novel targets licensed into the company by Oxford University Innovation Ltd. In addition to the three lead programs in asthma, atopic dermatitis and eczema, the company has established an early pipeline of new drug targets that it is now developing sequentially to deliver multiple lead candidates to the clinic in the future. Surface Therapeutics actively seeks partners to commercialise their development of the technology. It will also have a leading position in the genetic diagnosis of surface-inflammation diseases, such as asthma, and will use this to position itself as a market leader for the supply of these to global partners in the future pharmacogenetics market.

On the back of a substantial portfolio of intellectual property and expertise, Surface Therapeutics Ltd has attracted a “series A” investment of £1.5M towards the development of the business. In addition it has attracted a high calibre industry experienced scientific team to complement the academic expertise of the founders. Together the people and the funds will not only support drug development programs but also the continued research into the root causes of debilitating diseases like asthma, the incidence of which is continuing to increase.

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