Spirea secures seed investment from Meltwind and Start Codon to advance cancer treatments.
The seed round was led by Meltwind and Start Codon to accelerate in vivo proof-of-concept studies.
Spirea is a Cambridge-based biotechnology company developing antibody-drug conjugate treatments designed to target solid tumours.
Spirea has closed a seed funding round led by Meltwind and Start Codon to advance its antibody-drug conjugate therapeutics. The financing will support in vivo proof-of-concept studies scheduled for completion by the end of 2020. The company has previously attracted backing from Innovate UK, IP Group and Cambridge Enterprise.
Antibody-drug conjugates combine cytotoxic payloads with targeted antibodies, though many existing treatments face clinical and manufacturing constraints. Spirea aims to overcome these limitations with a technology that offers high drug-to-antibody ratios and stability. The firm is also participating in the Start Codon incubator programme.
From the founder
"Incorporation of our technology into ADC products will accelerate and energise the important transition away from the 'one size fits all' approach currently being pursued in ADC development, resulting in novel products with a competitive and differentiated profile. The platform has the power to unlock the development of a new generation of powerful and well-tolerated drugs, which have been so far inaccessible to many cancer patients."
Myriam Ouberai
Chief Executive Officer at Spirea
Investor perspective
"We are very excited to be working closely with Spirea to support their start-up journey. The company has already demonstrated promising in vitro results and we look forward to seeing the technology develop further."
Jason Mellad
Co-Founder and CEO, Start Codon
Use of funds
- 01Fund research and development
