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Start Codon

Start Codon

Venture Capital

Start Codon is a life science and healthcare business accelerator providing seed funding, facilities, and mentoring.

Portfolio

2

companies


Portfolio companies

HotHouse Therapeutics

HotHouse Therapeutics

HotHouse Therapeutics develops sustainable pharmaceutical compounds using an AI-optimised plant-based chemistry platform.

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Spirea

Spirea develops next-generation antibody-drug conjugate therapeutics for cancer treatment.


Team

Jason Mellad

Jason Mellad

Co-Founder and CEO

Jason serves as co-founder and CEO of OtoImmune, alongside directorships at several ventures including Octiocor, RevoNA Bio, and StemBond Technologies. He previously led Start Codon in the same capacity.

LinkedIn

Recent investments

Pre-Seed
£2.9M

The Norwich-based drug discovery startup emerged from stealth with backing from SynBioVen, Start Codon, UKI2S, Twin Path Ventures, Wren Capital, angels, and Innovate UK.

"We grow greener medicines using a platform that makes the impossible accessible. The drug discovery field desperately needs new chemical space and the vaccine field needs new adjuvants, with supply chains that work for everyone. By combining AI with plant engineering, we can reach molecules others cannot, and scale them in a way that supports global health, not just high-income markets."
— David Sheppard, CEO
Seed
£0

The seed round was led by Meltwind and Start Codon to accelerate in vivo proof-of-concept studies.

"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, CEO