Richard Marshall CBE

“It has the potential to stop or slow Parkinson’s.” NRG Therapeutics has secured an impressive £50 million to advance their drug, NRG5051, into clinical trials for people with Parkinson’s. The Parkinson’s UK Virtual Biotech originally invested £1 million in 2019, and is now working in partnership with the Parkinson's Foundation. Dr Lynsey Bilsland is here to tell you more about the drug, how we remain an active founding investor and the next steps.

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If you want to help create a future where: 1️⃣ people with rare diseases have faster diagnoses and better treatment options, and 2️⃣ innovators find a coordinated, sector-wide approach to get new tests and treatments to market, and help them stay there ➡️ read our latest report with Genetic Alliance UK: https://lnkd.in/e8iPr7Xi It recommends 10 actions that government, regulators, industry, academia, funders, clinicians, and patient groups can take to #ChangeTheRareFuture for those living with rare conditions.

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With the National Cancer Plan expected in the coming months, its contents sparked discussions on the sidelines of the Labour Party Conference.   John McNeill, Oncology Business Unit Director at MSD in the UK, explores in The House Magazine how the Plan can truly improve care and outcomes for cancer patients across England.   From reducing disparity in care to preparing for the next generation of treatments, the National Cancer Plan presents a rare opportunity to address the challenges facing cancer patients in England today and enable the NHS for tomorrow.   See below three elements we believe the Plan should deliver on👇and read the full article here 👉 http://bit.ly/4ogj63z   GB-NON-11930

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'We need to move with the times' - Matthew Durdy, Chief Executive, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult.   In this Pink Sheet interview, Matthew Durdy, CGT Catapult, discusses how recent changes in UK drug regulations could impact the #cell and #gene therapy industry, and how the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)'s new reforms in decentralised manufacturing are a positive signal for the UK's #CellTherapy ecosystem.   Read the interview: https://lnkd.in/eK4AR8BG   #ATMPs #AdvancedTherapies Citeline

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We're pleased to announce a £5 million investment into Cyted Health, a leading gastrointestinal molecular diagnostics company, as part of an £32.5 million Series B funding round. The round was co-led with EQT Life Sciences and Advent Life Sciences, with continued support from existing investors Morningside and BGF. Founded by leading experts at the University of Cambridge, Cyted is pioneering the development of minimally invasive cell collection coupled with proprietary biomarker discovery to transform the detection of pre-cancerous, cancerous and inflammatory esophageal conditions. "Life sciences is an area of real opportunity for the UK. We have an abundance of high potential, IP rich companies that can become market leaders if they have the funding needed to scale. This is why life sciences is one of the eight key sectors included in the Government’s Industrial Strategy," says Leandros Kalisperas, our Chief Investment Officer. "The British Business Bank is already the most active investor in UK life sciences, but the sector will continue to be a priority for our investment to ensure companies like Cyted can grow and fulfil their potential."

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🎙️ On the latest episode of The Respiratory Catalyst Podcast from Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), hear from UK Biobank Deputy Chief Scientist Dr Adam Lewandowski. Hosted by Prof Jenni Quint, together they discuss how UK Biobank is used by researchers, particularly those exploring respiratory disease and Adam explains how researchers can securely access the data they need for their particular studies. ✅ Listen here: https://ow.ly/coxc50X2OsM

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Working backwards from a clinical effect might seem an odd approach, but in the case of the deubiquitinase Ubiquitin Specific Protease USP30, this has been the challenge for Darragh O’Brien’s research. USP30 inhibitors had recently advanced to clinic trials, but the mechanism of action (MoA) was still not yet fully established.   At the outset of the study, structural information for USP30 was not available, making it difficult to look at the conformation of the USP30 inhibitor binding pocket. Darragh used a structural proteomics approach to characterise the binding site of different types of USP30 inhibitors on the protein, as traditional crystallography had not yet been successful. Activity-Based Protein Profiling Mass Spectrometry (ABPP-MS), Hydrogen-Deuterium eXchange Mass Spectrometry (HDX-MS) and other supporting biophysical techniques coupled with enzyme kinetics enabled the development of a structural model which showcased the potency, activity, and selectivity of different USP30 inhibitor classes.   The data obtained from the highly integrative approach resulted in a proposed MoA for non-covalent USP30 inhibition. The work has since been extended to include covalent inhibitors, and has been confirmed by others in the field, paving the way for the development of next-generation inhibitors of USP30 targeting neurodegenerative disease and mitophagy-related disorders.   Darragh O'Brien is a Researcher in Neurodegenerative Disease and Head of Structural and Mechanistic Proteomics at the Centre for Medicines Discovery, University of Oxford. His talk ‘Targeting mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegenerative disease - The advent of potent and selective USP30 inhibitors’ will be presented on Wednesday 22nd October at ELRIG’s Drug Discovery 2025, in the scientific track ‘From bench to brain: Hit-finding approaches in neurodegenerative disease therapeutics in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Research UK’. Register now to hear his presentation: https://lnkd.in/e8c59Ung  #USP30 #ABPP #HDX  #deubiquitinylases #Parkinsonsdisease #mitophagy #drugdiscovery #SAR  #moleculardocking #structuralproteomics

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📰 MHRA in the news || “Law change allows UK hospitals to produce personalised gene therapy” in the BMJ – 24 July 2025    The BMJ has reported on world first UK regulations that will enable hospitals to safely perform the final manufacturing steps of personalised gene therapy treatments. 🧪    This would provide patients with “faster access to the often time sensitive treatments”, and hospitals and manufacturers another safe route to deliver care. A central control site will provide hospitals with “instructions and oversight, while they complete the process closer to the patient”. This is a similar process to the one used when chemotherapy and antibiotics are locally prepared.    🏠 The legislation also enables the use of mobile manufacturing units in the community or at a patient’s home for people who are too sick to travel or have weakened immune systems.    🗨️ “️This world-first legislation is a game-changer for patients. Cancer treatments tailored in days, not months. Life-saving therapies made at your bedside, not hundreds of miles away,” said Health Secretary The Rt. Hon. Wes Streeting MP.   🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/g4GQG2Us  

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Athernal Bio, based in Cambridge, UK, is developing targeted immunotherapies for blood cancer precursor conditions. The company has raised £3.5M in funding, led by Delin Ventures, to advance its innovative treatments and accelerate research and development in the hematology and immunotherapy space. Ieuan Walker | Nirupa Desai 🔗 Read full article link in comment #AthernalBio #Immunotherapy #BloodCancer #ClonalHaematopoiesis #HealthcareInnovation #Biotech #StartupFunding #SeriesAFunding #BiotechFunding #Eustartups #newss

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