Spinout Trogenix is developing a ‘Trojan Horse’ approach to gene therapy that targets the most lethal and hard to treat cancers
Some common solid tumours are extremely aggressive, exhibiting unchecked growth and treatment resistance. For example, glioblastoma is currently incurable, with only 25% of patients surviving more than one year. The University of Edinburgh spinout Trogenix, co-founded in 2023 by Professor Steve Pollard of Edinburgh’s Institute for Regeneration and Repair and investor 4BIO Capital, with support from Edinburgh Innovations, is developing a groundbreaking ‘Trojan Horse’ approach to gene therapy for aggressive cancers that is already in Phase I/II clinical trials.
A spinout with a ‘Trojan Horse’ strategy
Gene therapy in oncology faces two main challenges: selective delivery to tumour cells (and not normal cells) and effective gene payloads that result in lasting anticancer responses. Trogenix’s innovative strategy is to assemble fragments of gene regulatory sequences, called enhancers, into synthetic super-enhancers (SSEs). These SSEs recruit a combination of transcription factors that are only expressed in the targeted tumour cells. The SSEs then switch on the expression of two gene payloads: one gene encodes an immunomodulator that stimulates anticancer immune responses and induces immune memory. The second gene encodes a prodrug converting enzyme, which activates a cytotoxic anticancer agent that is taken orally. This two-pronged approach leaves non-cancerous cells untouched while stimulating the immune system at the same time.
Trogenix’s proprietary technology platform, Odysseus®, designs SSEs for the cells they want to target by using advanced genomics, bioinformatics and machine learning. When they used this system to kill glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs), which drive glioblastoma growth, they observed complete clearance of tumours in 83% of treated mice. As Professor Pollard explains: "This pre-clinical work in an aggressive brain cancer model that closely mimics human glioblastoma has achieved what we thought impossible - complete tumour elimination and long-lasting protection against cancer recurrence without off-target toxicity using a single dose of a single agent."
A rapid journey to clinical trial
Professor Pollard is Chief Scientific Officer of Trogenix, while Dr. Ken Macnamara is Chief Executive Officer. In October 2025, Trogenix completed Series A financing of £70 million. The funding has enabled a Phase I/II clinical trial in glioblastoma, named ADePT, which started in May 2026 and is being conducted at two leading clinical sites: NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, and Ohio State University Hospital, USA.
The funding round, which will also advance development of precision gene therapy for other aggressive cancers, including colorectal cancer liver metastases, hepatocellular carcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma, was led by IQ Capital with participation from founding investor 4BIO Capital,. It included returning investors Cancer Research Horizons and the National Brain Tumor Society’s Brain Tumor Investment Fund, and new investors Eli Lilly and Company, Meltwind, LongeVC, and Calculus Capital, as well as undisclosed private investors. This is Cancer Research Horizons’ largest investment in any company to date.
Innovate UK provided an Investor Partnership grant in support of Trogenix’s preclinical research into its hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal cancer liver metastases programmes.
Professor Pollard says:
This represents another example of the vibrant spinout ecosystem in Edinburgh, with tremendous support from the Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Edinburgh Innovations and many of my colleagues and collaborators, who have been highly supportive from the outset. ”
Commercialisation: a bridge from research to clinic
Initially incubated by 4BIO Capital, additional seed funding at spinout was provided by investors including Old College Capital (OCC), the University of Edinburgh’s in-house venture investment fund and part of Edinburgh Innovations. This continues to be OCC’s largest ever Seed-stage commitment.
This Trojan Horse approach, whereby the targeted expression of a lethal combination of gene payloads is delivered via a harmless viral vector into tumours, represents an important advance in gene therapy in oncology and for the treatment of the most aggressive cancers. Moreover, because its SSE design can target any unique cell type, Trogenix is also exploring whether its approach can target fibrosis, which causes scarring. So, not only will this groundbreaking approach benefit oncology, Trogenix also plans to build a strong research pipeline in regenerative medicine.
Dr Andrea Taylor, CEO of Edinburgh Innovations, says:
EI is proud to have helped build the bridge between Steve’s research and the clinic, supporting company formation and the protection of intellectual property that enables the promising technology he has developed to get closer to patients. We await the trial results with hope. ”
