Company Directory

Fibroblast immunology platform targeting cancer and inflammatory disease

Mestag Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class antibody therapies targeting activated fibroblasts to modulate immune responses in cancer and inflammatory disease. Its lead programme, MST-0312, is a bispecific antibody designed to induce tertiary lymphoid structures in solid tumours to drive anti-tumour immunity. A second programme targets a stromal inhibitory receptor to address inflammatory conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, IBD, and lupus.

Target discovery platform and antibody-based therapies for oncology

Oxford BioTherapeutics is an Oxford-based clinical-stage oncology company discovering and developing first-in-class antibody-based cancer therapies. Its proprietary platform identifies novel membrane protein targets directly from patient tumour samples, enabling the development of ADCs, immuno-oncology antibodies, T-cell engagers, and CAR-T targets. The company licenses discovered targets and development candidates to major pharmaceutical partners including Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche, GSK, and Boehringer Ingelheim.

Microgravity-based CDMO platform for crystallisation of biologic drugs

BioOrbit is a biotech developing a proprietary hardware platform for the crystallisation of protein-based biologic drugs in low Earth orbit. The company exploits the absence of gravity-driven convection in microgravity to produce larger, more uniform protein crystals than ground-based methods allow, enabling high-concentration, low-viscosity formulations suitable for subcutaneous delivery. It is targeting monoclonal antibodies as its primary application, with its first orbital payload delivered in 2024.

Benchtop platform for rapid cell-free protein expression and screening

Nuclera is a Cambridge-based biotechnology company developing benchtop systems for rapid protein expression and screening. Its discovery platform integrates cell-free protein synthesis, digital microfluidics, and automated construct screening to deliver soluble, active proteins in under 48 hours. The system is designed to accelerate protein-dependent workflows in drug discovery, biologics development, and research, reducing the time and cost traditionally associated with protein expression and purification.

AI platform for in silico antibody discovery

Antiverse is a Cardiff-based company using machine learning to identify diverse and rare antibody candidates from next-generation sequencing data of naïve and immune repertoires. Its AI-augmented discovery platform analyses NGS data in silico to shortlist effective and developable antibodies, claiming a tenfold improvement in hit rates compared to conventional approaches. The platform is already in use with large pharmaceutical companies and is being expanded to a broader customer base targeting oncology, cardiovascular, and respiratory indications.

Recombinant antibody sequencing, engineering and manufacturing services

Absolute Antibody specialises in recombinant antibody technology, offering sequencing, engineering and production services alongside a catalogue of recombinant antibodies and Fc fusion proteins in a range of formats. The company's ISO 9001:2015-certified manufacturing facility serves pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostics and academic customers across more than 65 countries. Absolute Antibody operates as part of Vector Laboratories following a 2024 merger, and retains its independent brand and UK manufacturing operations.

Antibody engineering platform improving solid tumour drug penetration

Creasallis is a Cambridge-based biotechnology company developing engineering solutions to improve the efficacy of antibody-based cancer therapies. Its patented technology modifies antibodies to enhance their penetration into solid tumours, and is designed as a plug-and-play modification compatible with any antibody isotype, including checkpoint inhibitors and antibody-drug conjugates. Creasallis is building its own portfolio of solid tumour antibody therapeutics alongside offering the platform to external drug developers.

T cell-engaging multispecific antibody fragments for solid tumours

Crescendo Biologics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing multispecific therapeutics based on fully human single-domain antibody fragments engineered for enhanced tumour penetration and selective T cell activation within the tumour microenvironment. Its lead programme is in Phase 1b clinical trials for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, with a second T cell engager also in the clinic targeting mesothelin-expressing tumours. The company also holds discovery and development collaborations with Takeda and BioNTech.

Custom recombinant antibody and protein development services

Scotia Biologics is a contract research organisation specialising in custom antibody and recombinant protein development for biomedical researchers and diagnostic developers. Services span antigen design, polyclonal and monoclonal antibody generation via hybridoma and phage display, antibody engineering including humanisation and reformatting, and full protein characterisation. Deliverables include purified antibodies, cell lines, plasmids, and sequence data. The company serves commercial and academic clients globally from its base at Foresterhill Health Campus, Aberdeen.

Integrated outsourced drug discovery and development platform

RxCelerate is a contract research organisation providing fully integrated drug discovery and development services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Based at Babraham Research Campus, the company offers end-to-end programme delivery spanning computational design, antibody discovery, medicinal chemistry, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, GLP bioanalysis and preclinical development. Its model targets virtual and semi-virtual biotechs requiring turnkey outsourcing. RxCelerate employs over 100 scientists and also has offices in Boston.

Isoform-specific antibody therapeutics for vascular disease

IsomAb is a biotechnology company developing isoform-specific antibody therapeutics for serious vascular diseases. Its lead programme, ISM-001, targets VEGF-A165b, an anti-angiogenic splice isoform implicated in peripheral arterial disease and chronic limb-threatening ischaemia. The company uses a bioinformatics-guided platform to identify pathogenic mRNA splicing targets and develop disease-modifying antibodies for conditions with limited treatment options. ISM-001 is currently in IND-enabling preclinical studies.

AI-driven antibody reagents and diagnostics for research and clinical use

Vertebrate Antibodies is a contract research organisation developing custom monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, and AI-driven diagnostic products for research and clinical applications. Its AI-driven epitope prediction and antigen display platforms enable highly specific antibody generation against novel targets for oncology, infectious disease, and veterinary research. Under its EpitogenX holding company, the company is developing diagnostic tests for Lyme disease and Type 1 Diabetes.