A NASDAQ-quoted innovator of engineering simulation software based in Pittsburgh is buying University of Cambridge spin-out Granta Design. No sums have been disclosed for the acquisition.

Spun out of the UK university’s Department of Engineering in 1993, Granta Design provides materials information technology. 

Its IP is based on the work of Professor Michael Ashby (now emeritus) and Professor David Cebon and it has 180 employees.

Its products include GRANTA MI, the leading system for enterprise materials information management and CES Selector, which enables users to explore the impact that different materials have on the behaviour of their products. 

Granta also develops CES EduPack, the world’s leading teaching resource for materials topics in engineering, science, processing and design which is used by more than 1,000 universities worldwide. Granta’s customers include Airbus, General Motors, Emerson Electric, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Saudi Aramco and Rolls-Royce.

The acquisition expands ANSYS’ portfolio into a lucrative and impactful vertical market, giving customers access to material intelligence, including data that is critical to successful simulations.  The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019. 

With advances in the performance of metals, plastics and other materials, including innovations in areas such as composites and additive manufacturing, manufacturers have a wealth of material choices when developing products. At the same time, they require accurate, traceable and reliable materials information to make smart materials choices and to ensure simulation accuracy. 

With this acquisition, ANSYS customers can benefit from access to the world’s premier system for managing corporate material intelligence and the market-leading solution for materials sources, selection and management. 

Granta customers can expect even easier access to ANSYS’ gold-standard simulation technology. Granta will continue its open ecosystem, integrating with a wide range of leading product lifecycle management, CAD and computer-aided engineering solutions.

“Granta Design has pioneered the field of materials information technology,” said Shane Emswiler, ANSYS vice-president and general manager. 

“With materials engineering becoming an increasingly important aspect of product development, our customers require high-quality and comprehensive materials information for accurate simulation results. 

“Integrating Granta’s solutions into the ANSYS portfolio will provide a seamless user experience – and enable our customers to innovate like never before.”

David Cebon (pictured), co-founder and managing director of Granta Design, added: “For nearly 50 years, ANSYS has been the leader in engineering simulation. Combining that expertise with Granta’s decades of experience in material intelligence will help our customers make smarter decisions when developing their next-generation products.”

If you’ve ever seen a rocket launch, flown on an airplane, driven a car, used a computer, touched a mobile device, crossed a bridge or put on wearable technology, chances are you’ve used a product where ANSYS software played a critical role in its creation.

A NASDAQ-quoted innovator of engineering simulation software based in Pittsburgh is buying University of Cambridge spin-out Granta Design. No sums have been disclosed for the acquisition.

Spun out of the UK university’s Department of Engineering in 1993, Granta Design provides materials information technology. 

Its IP is based on the work of Professor Michael Ashby (now emeritus) and Professor David Cebon and it has 180 employees.

Its products include GRANTA MI, the leading system for enterprise materials information management and CES Selector, which enables users to explore the impact that different materials have on the behaviour of their products. 

Granta also develops CES EduPack, the world’s leading teaching resource for materials topics in engineering, science, processing and design which is used by more than 1,000 universities worldwide. Granta’s customers include Airbus, General Motors, Emerson Electric, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Saudi Aramco and Rolls-Royce.

The acquisition expands ANSYS’ portfolio into a lucrative and impactful vertical market, giving customers access to material intelligence, including data that is critical to successful simulations.  The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019. 

With advances in the performance of metals, plastics and other materials, including innovations in areas such as composites and additive manufacturing, manufacturers have a wealth of material choices when developing products. At the same time, they require accurate, traceable and reliable materials information to make smart materials choices and to ensure simulation accuracy. 

With this acquisition, ANSYS customers can benefit from access to the world’s premier system for managing corporate material intelligence and the market-leading solution for materials sources, selection and management. 

Granta customers can expect even easier access to ANSYS’ gold-standard simulation technology. Granta will continue its open ecosystem, integrating with a wide range of leading product lifecycle management, CAD and computer-aided engineering solutions.

“Granta Design has pioneered the field of materials information technology,” said Shane Emswiler, ANSYS vice-president and general manager. 

“With materials engineering becoming an increasingly important aspect of product development, our customers require high-quality and comprehensive materials information for accurate simulation results. 

“Integrating Granta’s solutions into the ANSYS portfolio will provide a seamless user experience – and enable our customers to innovate like never before.”

David Cebon (pictured), co-founder and managing director of Granta Design, added: “For nearly 50 years, ANSYS has been the leader in engineering simulation. Combining that expertise with Granta’s decades of experience in material intelligence will help our customers make smarter decisions when developing their next-generation products.”

If you’ve ever seen a rocket launch, flown on an airplane, driven a car, used a computer, touched a mobile device, crossed a bridge or put on wearable technology, chances are you’ve used a product where ANSYS software played a critical role in its creation.

A NASDAQ-quoted innovator of engineering simulation software based in Pittsburgh is buying University of Cambridge spin-out Granta Design. No sums have been disclosed for the acquisition.

Spun out of the UK university’s Department of Engineering in 1993, Granta Design provides materials information technology. 

Its IP is based on the work of Professor Michael Ashby (now emeritus) and Professor David Cebon and it has 180 employees.

Its products include GRANTA MI, the leading system for enterprise materials information management and CES Selector, which enables users to explore the impact that different materials have on the behaviour of their products. 

Granta also develops CES EduPack, the world’s leading teaching resource for materials topics in engineering, science, processing and design which is used by more than 1,000 universities worldwide. Granta’s customers include Airbus, General Motors, Emerson Electric, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Saudi Aramco and Rolls-Royce.

The acquisition expands ANSYS’ portfolio into a lucrative and impactful vertical market, giving customers access to material intelligence, including data that is critical to successful simulations.  The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019. 

With advances in the performance of metals, plastics and other materials, including innovations in areas such as composites and additive manufacturing, manufacturers have a wealth of material choices when developing products. At the same time, they require accurate, traceable and reliable materials information to make smart materials choices and to ensure simulation accuracy. 

With this acquisition, ANSYS customers can benefit from access to the world’s premier system for managing corporate material intelligence and the market-leading solution for materials sources, selection and management. 

Granta customers can expect even easier access to ANSYS’ gold-standard simulation technology. Granta will continue its open ecosystem, integrating with a wide range of leading product lifecycle management, CAD and computer-aided engineering solutions.

“Granta Design has pioneered the field of materials information technology,” said Shane Emswiler, ANSYS vice-president and general manager. 

“With materials engineering becoming an increasingly important aspect of product development, our customers require high-quality and comprehensive materials information for accurate simulation results. 

“Integrating Granta’s solutions into the ANSYS portfolio will provide a seamless user experience – and enable our customers to innovate like never before.”

David Cebon (pictured), co-founder and managing director of Granta Design, added: “For nearly 50 years, ANSYS has been the leader in engineering simulation. Combining that expertise with Granta’s decades of experience in material intelligence will help our customers make smarter decisions when developing their next-generation products.”

If you’ve ever seen a rocket launch, flown on an airplane, driven a car, used a computer, touched a mobile device, crossed a bridge or put on wearable technology, chances are you’ve used a product where ANSYS software played a critical role in its creation.

Whilst 2018 was a year of huge uncertainty with regards to the political and economic landscape across the globe, many may feel it was one of great success when reflecting on the Life Sciences sector in the region, writes Tony Jones, CEO of One Nucleus. 

Such successes laid the foundations of what could be the tipping point of when the anticipated advances in fields such as genomics, AI and Machine Learning, digital health and engineering deliver the patient outcomes and investor returns envisaged over the past decade or more.

The region has been at the forefront of Precision Medicine approaches since the concept emerged as ‘stratified medicine’ many (super) moons ago, yet despite much expectation one could argue it has yet to deliver for all stakeholders. So why does it feel we are now closer than ever to achieving those goals?

Commitment to investing in critical research-based initiatives such as those developed by the Wellcome Genome Campus and the many world-class biomedical research institutions across the region, has anchored progress in the field here. 

The exciting news that the 100,000 Genomes Project had sequenced that number of whole genomes within the NHS was another clear exemplification of the collective desire of Government, NHS and private sector partners to use our understanding in science to improve lives. Innovating to change the world is in the DNA of the scientists, business leaders and investors in the region and that attracts great minds, capital and support from further afield who wish to enable and share in such success. 

Advances in fields such as data science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, diagnostics, robotics, protein engineering and the microbiome are seeing that Eastern promise progress ever closer to delivery. 

Major investments and corporate deals into businesses small and large over the past years have seen well in excess of £2 billion of private capital pour into the cluster. 

Whether collaborations secured by companies such as Microbiotica’s with Genentech, Mission Therapeutics with Abbvie and Crescendo Biologics with Takeda or the significant financing events by CMR Surgical, Artios or Acacia Therapeutics, there are numerous signs of the maturing asset and company pipeline in the cluster. 

Yet further evidence, if any were needed, emerged that whilst the region is highly inventive and entrepreneurial, the cluster is about much more than early stage research and spin-outs – now having a comprehensive portfolio of opportunity in which to engage.  

It would perhaps be remiss not to mention the ‘B’ word. Boston, together with Cambridge, Massachusetts is the envy of many and seen as the benchmark by which any Life Science cluster is measured. 

It is clear there is a gap to close still, but it could be argued that it is a similar comprehensive portfolio of opportunity that has rendered Boston so attractive to capital and the large Pharma seeking to populate their investment and development pipelines, respectively. 

A continuing supportive Government policy and investment strategy are clearly a requirement to increase the innovation capacity of any leading cluster. This has been evident in Massachusetts and, in no small way due to the MPs in our region, has also been the case across the East of England. 

Public sector alone, however, cannot fund a maturing pipeline of advanced therapeutics, precision medicines and health technologies. It is pleasing to see how the long-term public support has made the cluster attractive to private capital – the above deals being examples of just how attractive. 

Whilst the uncertainties around Brexit continue, with parliamentarians not yet showing themselves to be as adept at collaboration, compromise and dealmaking as our Life Science leaders, I still believe that we are poised for a very positive year. 

The Cell & Gene Therapy catapult recently highlighted how the Advanced Therapy pipeline has expanded; the corresponding Manufacturing Centre being located at the Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst driving growth is just one example of how innovative medicines are starting to come of age. 

Another is the exciting progress by rare disease companies such as Cambridge-based Healx, who will now be able to harness and apply the benefit of genomics and AI to benefit hitherto under-served patient groups. 

As a final example, the additional understanding of the microbiome as it relates to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of therapeutics that will arise from institutions such as the Quadram Institute and their neighbours in Norwich, will enable future health and wellbeing advances as well as precision medicine development. 

Whilst Cambridge remains the jewel in the cluster’s crown, it is evident how the wider region combines to advance scientific understanding, increase our innovation capacity and attract global investment into new treatments and health technologies. 

In terms of One Nucleus, we are very proud to be based here and will be championing, connecting and supporting the region wherever possible. Leveraging our investment in a new website and contact management system we will continue our work with a focus on bringing together great science and technology, talent and investment through our events, online portal and collaborations. 

Discovering new medicines has always been challenging, yet persistence, creativity and dealing with regulatory change are common characteristics among researchers, entrepreneurs and their investors so I feel our sector is well placed to face any challenge. 

The maturing development pipeline, the positive mood music that we’ll see active M & A and perhaps IPO traffic through 2019 for investors and the continuing advancement in the areas of science that were only recently in their infancy, lends me to believe we are indeed on the cusp of delivering on that promise.

https://onenucleus.com/

Whilst 2018 was a year of huge uncertainty with regards to the political and economic landscape across the globe, many may feel it was one of great success when reflecting on the Life Sciences sector in the region, writes Tony Jones, CEO of One Nucleus. 

Such successes laid the foundations of what could be the tipping point of when the anticipated advances in fields such as genomics, AI and Machine Learning, digital health and engineering deliver the patient outcomes and investor returns envisaged over the past decade or more.

The region has been at the forefront of Precision Medicine approaches since the concept emerged as ‘stratified medicine’ many (super) moons ago, yet despite much expectation one could argue it has yet to deliver for all stakeholders. So why does it feel we are now closer than ever to achieving those goals?

Commitment to investing in critical research-based initiatives such as those developed by the Wellcome Genome Campus and the many world-class biomedical research institutions across the region, has anchored progress in the field here. 

The exciting news that the 100,000 Genomes Project had sequenced that number of whole genomes within the NHS was another clear exemplification of the collective desire of Government, NHS and private sector partners to use our understanding in science to improve lives. Innovating to change the world is in the DNA of the scientists, business leaders and investors in the region and that attracts great minds, capital and support from further afield who wish to enable and share in such success. 

Advances in fields such as data science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, diagnostics, robotics, protein engineering and the microbiome are seeing that Eastern promise progress ever closer to delivery. 

Major investments and corporate deals into businesses small and large over the past years have seen well in excess of £2 billion of private capital pour into the cluster. 

Whether collaborations secured by companies such as Microbiotica’s with Genentech, Mission Therapeutics with Abbvie and Crescendo Biologics with Takeda or the significant financing events by CMR Surgical, Artios or Acacia Therapeutics, there are numerous signs of the maturing asset and company pipeline in the cluster. 

Yet further evidence, if any were needed, emerged that whilst the region is highly inventive and entrepreneurial, the cluster is about much more than early stage research and spin-outs – now having a comprehensive portfolio of opportunity in which to engage.  

It would perhaps be remiss not to mention the ‘B’ word. Boston, together with Cambridge, Massachusetts is the envy of many and seen as the benchmark by which any Life Science cluster is measured. 

It is clear there is a gap to close still, but it could be argued that it is a similar comprehensive portfolio of opportunity that has rendered Boston so attractive to capital and the large Pharma seeking to populate their investment and development pipelines, respectively. 

A continuing supportive Government policy and investment strategy are clearly a requirement to increase the innovation capacity of any leading cluster. This has been evident in Massachusetts and, in no small way due to the MPs in our region, has also been the case across the East of England. 

Public sector alone, however, cannot fund a maturing pipeline of advanced therapeutics, precision medicines and health technologies. It is pleasing to see how the long-term public support has made the cluster attractive to private capital – the above deals being examples of just how attractive. 

Whilst the uncertainties around Brexit continue, with parliamentarians not yet showing themselves to be as adept at collaboration, compromise and dealmaking as our Life Science leaders, I still believe that we are poised for a very positive year. 

The Cell & Gene Therapy catapult recently highlighted how the Advanced Therapy pipeline has expanded; the corresponding Manufacturing Centre being located at the Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst driving growth is just one example of how innovative medicines are starting to come of age. 

Another is the exciting progress by rare disease companies such as Cambridge-based Healx, who will now be able to harness and apply the benefit of genomics and AI to benefit hitherto under-served patient groups. 

As a final example, the additional understanding of the microbiome as it relates to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of therapeutics that will arise from institutions such as the Quadram Institute and their neighbours in Norwich, will enable future health and wellbeing advances as well as precision medicine development. 

Whilst Cambridge remains the jewel in the cluster’s crown, it is evident how the wider region combines to advance scientific understanding, increase our innovation capacity and attract global investment into new treatments and health technologies. 

In terms of One Nucleus, we are very proud to be based here and will be championing, connecting and supporting the region wherever possible. Leveraging our investment in a new website and contact management system we will continue our work with a focus on bringing together great science and technology, talent and investment through our events, online portal and collaborations. 

Discovering new medicines has always been challenging, yet persistence, creativity and dealing with regulatory change are common characteristics among researchers, entrepreneurs and their investors so I feel our sector is well placed to face any challenge. 

The maturing development pipeline, the positive mood music that we’ll see active M & A and perhaps IPO traffic through 2019 for investors and the continuing advancement in the areas of science that were only recently in their infancy, lends me to believe we are indeed on the cusp of delivering on that promise.

https://onenucleus.com/

US funding giants from Boston and San Francisco have led a thumping $24 million Series A for a Cambridge University biopharma spin-out that hasn’t even named its board yet.

Wren Therapeutics has been set up by academics from St John’s College to develop drugs to treat illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and more than 50 other related diseases.

The fledgling UK business  is set to expand by setting up a satellite office in Boston while remaining anchored within Cambridge University’s new Chemistry of Health Centre.

Wren raised the cash from an international syndicate led by The Baupost Group in Boston with participation from San Francisco-based LifeForce Capital and a number of high net worth individual investors.

The Baupost Group is a long-only hedge fund founded in 1982 by Harvard Professor William Poorvu and partners and is the eighth-largest hedge fund by assets under management ($29.2bn).

Several of Wren’s scientific founders are members of St John’s, including Professor Sir Christopher Dobson, Master of St John’s, Professor Tuomas Knowles, a St John’s Fellow, and Dr Samuel Cohen, the St John’s Entrepreneur in Residence.

Wren Therapeutics focuses on drug discovery and development for protein misfolding diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and was founded in 2016. 

Protein molecules form the machinery which carry out all of the executive functions in living systems. But proteins sometimes malfunction and become misfolded, leading to a complex chain of molecular events that can cause long-lasting damage to the health of people affected and may ultimately lead to death.

This group of medical disorders are known as protein misfolding diseases. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are widely recognised protein misfolding diseases, but others include type-2 diabetes, motor neurone disease and more than 50 other related illnesses.

Dr Cohen explained: “Protein misfolding diseases are one of the most critical global healthcare challenges of the 21st century but are highly complex and challenging to address. 

“Current strategies – in particular those driven by traditional drug discovery and biological approaches – have proven, at least to date, to be ineffective.

“Wren’s new and unique approach is instead built on concepts from the physical sciences and focuses on the chemical kinetics of the protein misfolding process, creating a predictive and quantitatively driven platform that has the potential to radically advance drug discovery in this class of diseases.”

Wren Therapeutics is a spin-off from the University of Cambridge and Lund University in Sweden. Professor Sir Christopher Dobson said: “Wren is built on many years of highly collaborative, uniquely integrated, interdisciplinary research that has uncovered the key molecular mechanisms associated with protein misfolding diseases.

“I am hugely enthusiastic about our ability to make tangible progress against these diseases and change the course of life for millions of people around the world suffering from these debilitating and increasingly common medical disorders.”

The company plans to announce its board of directors shortly.

• Image courtesy – University of Cambridge