Inspiring Innovation is our round-up of news from a thriving innovation landscape collated by our Sector Intelligence team, now with a focus on news and updates relating to our priority area, cancer. Fuelling our ambitions to elevate Wales as a place of choice for health and social care innovation and investment.
In this edition, read about the possibility of a new Welsh life science cluster in Cardiff, funding to develop anti-cancer therapeutics, and a robotic bronchoscopy system that enables earlier diagnosis of lung cancer.
Oligonucleotides – a new Welsh life science cluster developing?
A £1.75 million investment led by the Development Bank of Wales has prompted Argonaute RNA, a biotechnology company developing oligonucleotide therapeutics for rare cardiovascular conditions, to relocate to Cardiff. The move strengthens Argonaute's ties with its manufacturing partner CatSci, which opened an oligonucleotide synthesis facility in Cardiff in 2023. Along with Cytiva, a global leader in oligonucleotide therapeutic manufacturing, this colocation could foster the growth of a new oligonucleotide cluster in the region.
Mike Khan, CEO of Argonaute said:
“We are grateful for the support of the Development Bank and excited to be part of what is happening in the oligonucleotide field in Cardiff. Our goal is to take our lead drug into trials and to show what a massive difference we can make to the lives of patients.”
Awen Oncology secures new funding to develop anti-cancer therapeutics
Awen Oncology, a spinout from Cardiff and Bangor Universities, has raised over £1 million in equity investment, with six-figure backing from the Development Bank of Wales and Start Codon. Based in M-Sparc, Wales’ first science park, the company is developing therapeutics targeting human developmental genes linked to cancer progression. Previously funded by Cancer Research UK, Innovate UK, and the Welsh Government SMART capital programme, Awen is now an affiliate of the University of Cambridge’s Milner Therapeutic Institute, receiving support from Start Codon’s START Programme to advance its commercialisation efforts.
Dr Ramsay McFarlane, Cofounder and CEO, Awen Oncology said:
“We are confident that the combined backing of the Development Bank and Start Codon, alongside the universities and M-Sparc, means that we now have the support to fast-track our innovative science into a successful global commercial venture that could help treat cancers.”
Robotic Bronchoscopy used to detect early-stage lung cancer
Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester is among the first in Europe to use the Ion Endoluminal System, a robotic bronchoscopy system that enables earlier diagnosis of lung cancer by reaching deep lung nodules that are difficult to biopsy using traditional methods.
This advanced technology allows clinicians to navigate a robotic catheter through the lungs with precision, leading to a 100% diagnostic success rate so far. With the rise of lung cancer screening programmes, such systems are crucial for diagnosing small nodules earlier, reducing delays in treatment and improving patient outcomes.
Dr Haval Balata, Respiratory Physician and Clinical Lead for the Ion service at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust said:
“Ion allows us to safely, and accurately, sample these lesions and provide patients with the much-needed answers they seek. This, in turn, allows us to offer patients the best possible treatments sooner rather than later, when treatment is much more likely to be successful”.
Cancer focussed innovator?
If you're an innovator focused on addressing cancer and wish to develop your innovation or programme in Wales, we want to hear from you. Please submit your enquiry here today, providing as much detail as possible, and a member of our team will get in touch with you.
