New University of Edinburgh spinout Forth Therapeutics (Forth Tx) has launched with a precision therapeutics platform focused on tackling fibrosis across multiple organ systems.
The biotech company builds on pioneering research from Professor Neil Henderson, a fibrosis and tissue regeneration expert at the University’s Institute for Regeneration and Repair.
It is backed by Sofinnova Partners, a leading European life sciences venture capital firm, and Old College Capital (OCC), the University of Edinburgh’s in-house venture investment fund.
Its assets target key fibrosis pathways, underpinned by state-of-the-art ‘omics’ technology.
Omics are methods used to study biological molecules (like DNA, RNA, proteins, and metabolites) on a large scale.
Fibrosis, or tissue-scarring in response to an injury, can lead to severe organ damage or even death.
Forth Tx also holds access to one of the largest single-cell human liver disease datasets in the world, accelerating precision drug discovery and development.
Headquartered in Edinburgh and Cambridge, the company is led by CEO Alex Leech, a serial entrepreneur and partner at Sofinnova Partners, who brings decades of company-building expertise.
Forth Tx will benefit from Sofinnova’s €165M Biovelocita II fund.
Professor Henderson, Chair of Tissue Repair and Regeneration, said:
Launching Forth Tx through Sofinnova’s biotech accelerator has allowed us to translate years of our multiomics-driven research into precision therapies that we hope will transform patients’ lives. Fibrosis is an area of huge unmet medical need, and I’m delighted to be working with Alex and the Sofinnova team, as well as OCC, to deliver potent, new treatments for patients with fibrosis. ”
Alex Leech, CEO of Forth Tx and Partner at Sofinnova Partners, added:
Forth Tx is breaking new ground in fibrosis therapeutics, combining world-class science with a capital-efficient, precision driven approach. I’m excited to be working with Neil and the University of Edinburgh team on this mission. ”
Dr Andrea Taylor, CEO of Edinburgh Innovations, the University’s commercialisation service, said:
Huge congratulations to Neil and the Forth Tx team. Having supported Neil through working with industry to company formation, investment and consultancy through our ‘deal team’ approach, we are delighted to see them launch their precision therapeutics platform.
It’s fantastic to see the University’s commitment to unlocking research and innovation generating high-value, IP-rich spinouts with the potential to transform treatment in areas of unmet need, like fibrosis.”
