International trade advisers helping to sell UK opportunities to the world have been in Cambridge to highlight stand-out developments to global investors.

A futuristic data campus in the Cambridge Cluster with a perceived gross development value of £800 million is one of the local schemes in a diamond-studded dossier being pushed by the Government.

The 40-acre Camro Data Campus was one of three East of England schemes – together valued at more than £3.4 billion – unveiled tonight by International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox as part of the portfolio being promoted globally.

That £3.4bn represents more than a 10th of the total £30bn value of 68 projects across the UK that were outlined by Dr Fox this evening as potential lures to foreign investment.

Others will be added. Department of International trade posts from New York, Houston, China, Singapore and other key global centres were in Cambridge to vet prime projects to promote before moving on to other regional centres.

Dr Fox also revealed that a £2.5bn new Wisbech Garden Town and the Nelson Quay project in King’s Lynn – valued at £120m – were in the portfolio.

Dr Fox also extended the highly successful High Potential Opportunities scheme – piloted in Doncaster’s rail industry, Telford’s agri-tech sector, and Greater Manchester’s innovative graphene-based lightweight materials sector – to new industries and parts of the UK.

Dr Fox said: “This is a bold and ambitious programme, building on the UK’s position as the leading destination for foreign investment in Europe through the government’s modern Industrial Strategy, helping to build a Britain fit for the future.

“With more than £30bn worth of new opportunities, my international economic department’s overseas network is working hard to attract top investors to the UK.”

DIT works directly with companies in 177 cities in 108 countries around the world. Last year, DIT helped attract 2,265 investment projects which created or safeguarded 108,000 jobs in the UK.

Business Weekly understands that the Camro Data Campus is already attracting interest, including from Singapore, China and the United States.
It is being developed in response to increasing demand for new, energy efficient data centres particularly from high technology businesses.

Planning permission is in place for 65,000 sq metres data centre buildings (Use Class B1) with plant, services, offices, car parking, associated infrastructure and landscaping. Reserved matters have been approved for 8,353 sq metres. A potential 50‑acre extension is subject to planning.

A substation designed by Aecom supplies 6MVA with second phase to supply an additional 19MVA. Planning permission includes an on-site energy centre.

Openreach Ethernet is on-site with diversely routed nodes. New interconnect options and dark fibre are deliverable linking to core fibre infrastructure networks to London, the United States and Europe.

Lasercharm owns the site and has invested in project planning, development and infrastructure, including access roads, on-site substation, connectivity and drainage.

The project team is led by Adams Group Real Estate with support from Aecom and Arc:MC data centre specialists. The scheme is supported by the LEP/Greater Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority.

The Wisbech Garden Town concept was born out of the Wisbech 2020 Vision programme when associated partners recognised that high levels of deprivation in the area could only be reversed through growth of housing and the economy.

The Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority in July 2017 approved £6.5m in funding for the project, which seeks to regenerate Wisbech with between 10,000 and 12,000 homes over the next 40 years.

Initial work has already proved it has the potential to attract inward investment, improve transport links and positively impact the social wellbeing of the town by improving education attainment and health and raising its profile through branding.

Further investment is being sought to flesh out a blueprint, so the global promotion of the scheme by international trade ambassadors should give the project further impetus.

King’s Lynn is a historic medieval port in the top 20 per cent of districts nationally for quality of life. It has an annual tourism spend of around £520m and in the past two years has secured over £100m in public and private investment. 

This includes 22,000 square metres of new business floorspace, a new university centre, an Enterprise Zone and Heritage Action Zone status. The proposed development site sits alongside the River Great Ouse which has a vibrant leisure and tourism frontage and is within walking distance of the Minster and the town’s historic core.

The scheme is predominantly residential with an element of retail and commercial including a boutique hotel. A masterplan has been approved for 436 homes (41,329 square metres) plus 7,659 square metres of commercial space.

PHOTOGRAPH: Investment drive takes off with Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox 

A Cambridge startup with claims to be the world’s first direct-to-consumer epigenetic testing company using saliva is expanding globally with a proposition that blends the latest in AI, epigenetics research and next generation sequencing technology.

Chronomics Ltd is tracking users’ changing health and wellbeing by harnessing the epigenetic information found on their DNA.

Backed by a Silicon Valley VC firm, Chronomics has also clinched $100k accelerator funding to underpin its international market ambitions and is set to trigger a fresh spurt of recruitment.

The fledgling business was launched only last December by a quartet of Cambridge PhDs who have made a jet-heeled rise from academia to a frenzied start to commercial life.

Chronomics already has sales in six countries and on two continents – Europe and North America – and plans to expand into Asia in the near future.

CEO Tom Stubbs told Business Weekly that interest was also growing from leading pharmaceutical companies, leading retail businesses and top insurers globally.

In the coming three months Chronomics will recruit a further three people, including a marketing expert, a software engineer and a data scientist.

Epigenetics is the study of how genes are controlled and affects gene expression. Epigenetic changes are a regular and natural occurrence but can also be influenced by several factors including environmental ones such as pollution and UV exposure plus lifestyle factors such as exercise, diet and sleep. 

It is these marks that Chronomics measures and monitors so individuals can understand their epigenetic makeup and how it can be influenced by these factors. With this knowledge, people can change their lifestyles accordingly to optimise their health. 

Stubbs said: “Epigenetic changes can be harmless, for example where cells differentiate to form skin cells, liver cells or brain cells. But epigenetic change can also have more damaging effects that can result in diseases like cancer and other human disorders. It is these changes that we will be able to manage better by analysing and understanding our epigenetic data and making proactive choices about our future. 

“The benefits of using epigenetics to manage aspects of our lives are enormous. The insights from the data gives people the ability to directly tackle many physical and mental disorders, including metabolic diseases, inflammation, mental wellbeing, chronic stress, fatigue and obesity.

“A healthier population means a healthier workforce, so employers have more productive staff and less sick leave and this in turn feeds into a healthier economy. It signals good news for the health services, too, as healthier individuals relieve the stress on limited resources.”

Accelerator program $100k funding from US-based global venture capital player SOSV came at a crucial stage for the young business. 

Each year SOSV invests in 150 carefully selected companies through its internationally recognised vertical accelerator programmes. Typically it provides startups with seed capital, a specialised global staff of engineers, designers, and scientists to accelerate product development, mentors with deep market and technical expertise and an unparalleled infrastructure of fully outfitted laboratory and maker spaces. 

SOSV has also opened up international channels for the company, providing introductions to investors and other partners across the globe. 

Stubbs said: “At Chronomics our mission is to ensure that you understand how your environment is impacting on your epigenetic information and how this pertains to your disease risks. 

“We welcome a future where informed, proactive and personalised interventions are commonplace and reactive interventions can become a last resort.

“For certain environmental factors, this personalised, proactive and preventative approach to health is already here. We know that alcohol and folate intake, two known cancer risk factors, are associated with changes to the epigenome. 

“Physical exercise and a low-fat diet have both been shown to reduce recurrence rates through potentially epigenetic mechanisms. In addition, epigenetic risk factors may also be mitigated by dietary intake of classes of vegetables known to contain anti-cancerous compounds. 

“Isothiocyanates found in broccolis and water cress are known to inhibit epigenetic proteins called HDACs in cancerous cells.” 

Co-founder Toby Call, added: “DNA-based health tests were pioneered over the last decade. But aside from interesting titbits about morbidity risks that you can’t alter, ancestry you mostly already know, and what type of earwax you have, genetic tests are fundamentally limited by the fact that your DNA by and large does not change. 

“Chronomics is adding a time axis to make DNA testing relevant to the present and future. We are the first company worldwide to offer epigenetic testing, building an AI based platform to leverage the predictive power of DNA methylation biomarkers. 

“This will be the first of the ‘actionable omics’ that will drive the next generation of personalised deep health management.” 

• PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS: Senior team members at Chronomics Ltd

A Cambridge startup with claims to be the world’s first direct-to-consumer epigenetic testing company using saliva is expanding globally with a proposition that blends the latest in AI, epigenetics research and next generation sequencing technology.

Chronomics Ltd is tracking users’ changing health and wellbeing by harnessing the epigenetic information found on their DNA.

Backed by a Silicon Valley VC firm, Chronomics has also clinched $100k accelerator funding to underpin its international market ambitions and is set to trigger a fresh spurt of recruitment.

The fledgling business was launched only last December by a quartet of Cambridge PhDs who have made a jet-heeled rise from academia to a frenzied start to commercial life.

Chronomics already has sales in six countries and on two continents – Europe and North America – and plans to expand into Asia in the near future.

CEO Tom Stubbs told Business Weekly that interest was also growing from leading pharmaceutical companies, leading retail businesses and top insurers globally.

In the coming three months Chronomics will recruit a further three people, including a marketing expert, a software engineer and a data scientist.

Epigenetics is the study of how genes are controlled and affects gene expression. Epigenetic changes are a regular and natural occurrence but can also be influenced by several factors including environmental ones such as pollution and UV exposure plus lifestyle factors such as exercise, diet and sleep. 

It is these marks that Chronomics measures and monitors so individuals can understand their epigenetic makeup and how it can be influenced by these factors. With this knowledge, people can change their lifestyles accordingly to optimise their health. 

Stubbs said: “Epigenetic changes can be harmless, for example where cells differentiate to form skin cells, liver cells or brain cells. But epigenetic change can also have more damaging effects that can result in diseases like cancer and other human disorders. It is these changes that we will be able to manage better by analysing and understanding our epigenetic data and making proactive choices about our future. 

“The benefits of using epigenetics to manage aspects of our lives are enormous. The insights from the data gives people the ability to directly tackle many physical and mental disorders, including metabolic diseases, inflammation, mental wellbeing, chronic stress, fatigue and obesity.

“A healthier population means a healthier workforce, so employers have more productive staff and less sick leave and this in turn feeds into a healthier economy. It signals good news for the health services, too, as healthier individuals relieve the stress on limited resources.”

Accelerator program $100k funding from US-based global venture capital player SOSV came at a crucial stage for the young business. 

Each year SOSV invests in 150 carefully selected companies through its internationally recognised vertical accelerator programmes. Typically it provides startups with seed capital, a specialised global staff of engineers, designers, and scientists to accelerate product development, mentors with deep market and technical expertise and an unparalleled infrastructure of fully outfitted laboratory and maker spaces. 

SOSV has also opened up international channels for the company, providing introductions to investors and other partners across the globe. 

Stubbs said: “At Chronomics our mission is to ensure that you understand how your environment is impacting on your epigenetic information and how this pertains to your disease risks. 

“We welcome a future where informed, proactive and personalised interventions are commonplace and reactive interventions can become a last resort.

“For certain environmental factors, this personalised, proactive and preventative approach to health is already here. We know that alcohol and folate intake, two known cancer risk factors, are associated with changes to the epigenome. 

“Physical exercise and a low-fat diet have both been shown to reduce recurrence rates through potentially epigenetic mechanisms. In addition, epigenetic risk factors may also be mitigated by dietary intake of classes of vegetables known to contain anti-cancerous compounds. 

“Isothiocyanates found in broccolis and water cress are known to inhibit epigenetic proteins called HDACs in cancerous cells.” 

Co-founder Toby Call, added: “DNA-based health tests were pioneered over the last decade. But aside from interesting titbits about morbidity risks that you can’t alter, ancestry you mostly already know, and what type of earwax you have, genetic tests are fundamentally limited by the fact that your DNA by and large does not change. 

“Chronomics is adding a time axis to make DNA testing relevant to the present and future. We are the first company worldwide to offer epigenetic testing, building an AI based platform to leverage the predictive power of DNA methylation biomarkers. 

“This will be the first of the ‘actionable omics’ that will drive the next generation of personalised deep health management.” 

• PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS: Senior team members at Chronomics Ltd

A Cambridge startup with claims to be the world’s first direct-to-consumer epigenetic testing company using saliva is expanding globally with a proposition that blends the latest in AI, epigenetics research and next generation sequencing technology.

Chronomics Ltd is tracking users’ changing health and wellbeing by harnessing the epigenetic information found on their DNA.

Backed by a Silicon Valley VC firm, Chronomics has also clinched $100k accelerator funding to underpin its international market ambitions and is set to trigger a fresh spurt of recruitment.

The fledgling business was launched only last December by a quartet of Cambridge PhDs who have made a jet-heeled rise from academia to a frenzied start to commercial life.

Chronomics already has sales in six countries and on two continents – Europe and North America – and plans to expand into Asia in the near future.

CEO Tom Stubbs told Business Weekly that interest was also growing from leading pharmaceutical companies, leading retail businesses and top insurers globally.

In the coming three months Chronomics will recruit a further three people, including a marketing expert, a software engineer and a data scientist.

Epigenetics is the study of how genes are controlled and affects gene expression. Epigenetic changes are a regular and natural occurrence but can also be influenced by several factors including environmental ones such as pollution and UV exposure plus lifestyle factors such as exercise, diet and sleep. 

It is these marks that Chronomics measures and monitors so individuals can understand their epigenetic makeup and how it can be influenced by these factors. With this knowledge, people can change their lifestyles accordingly to optimise their health. 

Stubbs said: “Epigenetic changes can be harmless, for example where cells differentiate to form skin cells, liver cells or brain cells. But epigenetic change can also have more damaging effects that can result in diseases like cancer and other human disorders. It is these changes that we will be able to manage better by analysing and understanding our epigenetic data and making proactive choices about our future. 

“The benefits of using epigenetics to manage aspects of our lives are enormous. The insights from the data gives people the ability to directly tackle many physical and mental disorders, including metabolic diseases, inflammation, mental wellbeing, chronic stress, fatigue and obesity.

“A healthier population means a healthier workforce, so employers have more productive staff and less sick leave and this in turn feeds into a healthier economy. It signals good news for the health services, too, as healthier individuals relieve the stress on limited resources.”

Accelerator program $100k funding from US-based global venture capital player SOSV came at a crucial stage for the young business. 

Each year SOSV invests in 150 carefully selected companies through its internationally recognised vertical accelerator programmes. Typically it provides startups with seed capital, a specialised global staff of engineers, designers, and scientists to accelerate product development, mentors with deep market and technical expertise and an unparalleled infrastructure of fully outfitted laboratory and maker spaces. 

SOSV has also opened up international channels for the company, providing introductions to investors and other partners across the globe. 

Stubbs said: “At Chronomics our mission is to ensure that you understand how your environment is impacting on your epigenetic information and how this pertains to your disease risks. 

“We welcome a future where informed, proactive and personalised interventions are commonplace and reactive interventions can become a last resort.

“For certain environmental factors, this personalised, proactive and preventative approach to health is already here. We know that alcohol and folate intake, two known cancer risk factors, are associated with changes to the epigenome. 

“Physical exercise and a low-fat diet have both been shown to reduce recurrence rates through potentially epigenetic mechanisms. In addition, epigenetic risk factors may also be mitigated by dietary intake of classes of vegetables known to contain anti-cancerous compounds. 

“Isothiocyanates found in broccolis and water cress are known to inhibit epigenetic proteins called HDACs in cancerous cells.” 

Co-founder Toby Call, added: “DNA-based health tests were pioneered over the last decade. But aside from interesting titbits about morbidity risks that you can’t alter, ancestry you mostly already know, and what type of earwax you have, genetic tests are fundamentally limited by the fact that your DNA by and large does not change. 

“Chronomics is adding a time axis to make DNA testing relevant to the present and future. We are the first company worldwide to offer epigenetic testing, building an AI based platform to leverage the predictive power of DNA methylation biomarkers. 

“This will be the first of the ‘actionable omics’ that will drive the next generation of personalised deep health management.” 

• PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS: Senior team members at Chronomics Ltd

A Cambridge startup with claims to be the world’s first direct-to-consumer epigenetic testing company using saliva is expanding globally with a proposition that blends the latest in AI, epigenetics research and next generation sequencing technology.

Chronomics Ltd is tracking users’ changing health and wellbeing by harnessing the epigenetic information found on their DNA.

Backed by a Silicon Valley VC firm, Chronomics has also clinched $100k accelerator funding to underpin its international market ambitions and is set to trigger a fresh spurt of recruitment.

The fledgling business was launched only last December by a quartet of Cambridge PhDs who have made a jet-heeled rise from academia to a frenzied start to commercial life.

Chronomics already has sales in six countries and on two continents – Europe and North America – and plans to expand into Asia in the near future.

CEO Tom Stubbs told Business Weekly that interest was also growing from leading pharmaceutical companies, leading retail businesses and top insurers globally.

In the coming three months Chronomics will recruit a further three people, including a marketing expert, a software engineer and a data scientist.

Epigenetics is the study of how genes are controlled and affects gene expression. Epigenetic changes are a regular and natural occurrence but can also be influenced by several factors including environmental ones such as pollution and UV exposure plus lifestyle factors such as exercise, diet and sleep. 

It is these marks that Chronomics measures and monitors so individuals can understand their epigenetic makeup and how it can be influenced by these factors. With this knowledge, people can change their lifestyles accordingly to optimise their health. 

Stubbs said: “Epigenetic changes can be harmless, for example where cells differentiate to form skin cells, liver cells or brain cells. But epigenetic change can also have more damaging effects that can result in diseases like cancer and other human disorders. It is these changes that we will be able to manage better by analysing and understanding our epigenetic data and making proactive choices about our future. 

“The benefits of using epigenetics to manage aspects of our lives are enormous. The insights from the data gives people the ability to directly tackle many physical and mental disorders, including metabolic diseases, inflammation, mental wellbeing, chronic stress, fatigue and obesity.

“A healthier population means a healthier workforce, so employers have more productive staff and less sick leave and this in turn feeds into a healthier economy. It signals good news for the health services, too, as healthier individuals relieve the stress on limited resources.”

Accelerator program $100k funding from US-based global venture capital player SOSV came at a crucial stage for the young business. 

Each year SOSV invests in 150 carefully selected companies through its internationally recognised vertical accelerator programmes. Typically it provides startups with seed capital, a specialised global staff of engineers, designers, and scientists to accelerate product development, mentors with deep market and technical expertise and an unparalleled infrastructure of fully outfitted laboratory and maker spaces. 

SOSV has also opened up international channels for the company, providing introductions to investors and other partners across the globe. 

Stubbs said: “At Chronomics our mission is to ensure that you understand how your environment is impacting on your epigenetic information and how this pertains to your disease risks. 

“We welcome a future where informed, proactive and personalised interventions are commonplace and reactive interventions can become a last resort.

“For certain environmental factors, this personalised, proactive and preventative approach to health is already here. We know that alcohol and folate intake, two known cancer risk factors, are associated with changes to the epigenome. 

“Physical exercise and a low-fat diet have both been shown to reduce recurrence rates through potentially epigenetic mechanisms. In addition, epigenetic risk factors may also be mitigated by dietary intake of classes of vegetables known to contain anti-cancerous compounds. 

“Isothiocyanates found in broccolis and water cress are known to inhibit epigenetic proteins called HDACs in cancerous cells.” 

Co-founder Toby Call, added: “DNA-based health tests were pioneered over the last decade. But aside from interesting titbits about morbidity risks that you can’t alter, ancestry you mostly already know, and what type of earwax you have, genetic tests are fundamentally limited by the fact that your DNA by and large does not change. 

“Chronomics is adding a time axis to make DNA testing relevant to the present and future. We are the first company worldwide to offer epigenetic testing, building an AI based platform to leverage the predictive power of DNA methylation biomarkers. 

“This will be the first of the ‘actionable omics’ that will drive the next generation of personalised deep health management.” 

• PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS: Senior team members at Chronomics Ltd

A Cambridge startup with claims to be the world’s first direct-to-consumer epigenetic testing company using saliva is expanding globally with a proposition that blends the latest in AI, epigenetics research and next generation sequencing technology.

Chronomics Ltd is tracking users’ changing health and wellbeing by harnessing the epigenetic information found on their DNA.

Backed by a Silicon Valley VC firm, Chronomics has also clinched $100k accelerator funding to underpin its international market ambitions and is set to trigger a fresh spurt of recruitment.

The fledgling business was launched only last December by a quartet of Cambridge PhDs who have made a jet-heeled rise from academia to a frenzied start to commercial life.

Chronomics already has sales in six countries and on two continents – Europe and North America – and plans to expand into Asia in the near future.

CEO Tom Stubbs told Business Weekly that interest was also growing from leading pharmaceutical companies, leading retail businesses and top insurers globally.

In the coming three months Chronomics will recruit a further three people, including a marketing expert, a software engineer and a data scientist.

Epigenetics is the study of how genes are controlled and affects gene expression. Epigenetic changes are a regular and natural occurrence but can also be influenced by several factors including environmental ones such as pollution and UV exposure plus lifestyle factors such as exercise, diet and sleep. 

It is these marks that Chronomics measures and monitors so individuals can understand their epigenetic makeup and how it can be influenced by these factors. With this knowledge, people can change their lifestyles accordingly to optimise their health. 

Stubbs said: “Epigenetic changes can be harmless, for example where cells differentiate to form skin cells, liver cells or brain cells. But epigenetic change can also have more damaging effects that can result in diseases like cancer and other human disorders. It is these changes that we will be able to manage better by analysing and understanding our epigenetic data and making proactive choices about our future. 

“The benefits of using epigenetics to manage aspects of our lives are enormous. The insights from the data gives people the ability to directly tackle many physical and mental disorders, including metabolic diseases, inflammation, mental wellbeing, chronic stress, fatigue and obesity.

“A healthier population means a healthier workforce, so employers have more productive staff and less sick leave and this in turn feeds into a healthier economy. It signals good news for the health services, too, as healthier individuals relieve the stress on limited resources.”

Accelerator program $100k funding from US-based global venture capital player SOSV came at a crucial stage for the young business. 

Each year SOSV invests in 150 carefully selected companies through its internationally recognised vertical accelerator programmes. Typically it provides startups with seed capital, a specialised global staff of engineers, designers, and scientists to accelerate product development, mentors with deep market and technical expertise and an unparalleled infrastructure of fully outfitted laboratory and maker spaces. 

SOSV has also opened up international channels for the company, providing introductions to investors and other partners across the globe. 

Stubbs said: “At Chronomics our mission is to ensure that you understand how your environment is impacting on your epigenetic information and how this pertains to your disease risks. 

“We welcome a future where informed, proactive and personalised interventions are commonplace and reactive interventions can become a last resort.

“For certain environmental factors, this personalised, proactive and preventative approach to health is already here. We know that alcohol and folate intake, two known cancer risk factors, are associated with changes to the epigenome. 

“Physical exercise and a low-fat diet have both been shown to reduce recurrence rates through potentially epigenetic mechanisms. In addition, epigenetic risk factors may also be mitigated by dietary intake of classes of vegetables known to contain anti-cancerous compounds. 

“Isothiocyanates found in broccolis and water cress are known to inhibit epigenetic proteins called HDACs in cancerous cells.” 

Co-founder Toby Call, added: “DNA-based health tests were pioneered over the last decade. But aside from interesting titbits about morbidity risks that you can’t alter, ancestry you mostly already know, and what type of earwax you have, genetic tests are fundamentally limited by the fact that your DNA by and large does not change. 

“Chronomics is adding a time axis to make DNA testing relevant to the present and future. We are the first company worldwide to offer epigenetic testing, building an AI based platform to leverage the predictive power of DNA methylation biomarkers. 

“This will be the first of the ‘actionable omics’ that will drive the next generation of personalised deep health management.” 

• PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS: Senior team members at Chronomics Ltd

PhoreMost, a Cambridge UK biopharma company focused on drugging ‘undruggable’ disease targets, has completed a $15 million Series-A round.

The money will be used to expand operations on the Babraham Research Campus and progress several novel drug targets from its next-generation SITESEEKER® phenotypic screening platform into first-in-class drug discovery programmes.

The new investment follows a successful validation phase, which saw PhoreMost grow from a Cambridge University spin-out in 2015 with early proof-of-concept data, to a technically and commercially validated enterprise in 2017.

The company says that its SITESEEKER® platform can identify the best new therapeutic targets for any chosen disease setting and rapidly identify how to develop novel drugs to them.

If so, the technology has the potential to significantly increase the diversity and affordability of novel treatments for cancer and other unmet diseases. Using its platform, PhoreMost has built a proprietary novel target pipeline, signed two pharma collaboration deals, and spun-out a new company, NeoPhore, to progress a novel target for cancer immunotherapy into the small-molecule development stage.

The funding will enable PhoreMost to expand the range and depth of other proprietary targets into the drug discovery process.

The Series-A round was led by current investors Jonathan Milner, Amadeus Capital Partners, Cambridge Enterprise and cornerstone Parkwalk Advisors.

Morningside Ventures, a prolific backer of global biotech enterprises, is the principal new investor, with Dr Gerald Chan from Morningside joining the PhoreMost board. Alastair Kilgour of Parkwalk also joins the board.

PhoreMost CEO Dr Chris Torrance, who was also a co-founder of world-leading gene editing business Horizon Discovery, said: “We are thrilled to have the support of our existing investors and Morningside in enabling PhoreMost to move into its next exciting phase of growth. 

“Their funding and shared vision is a key part of PhoreMost becoming a fully-fledged ‘ethical’ drug discovery company that aims to bring a greater diversity of therapies to patients, more quickly and at prices they can afford.”

Chairman Dr Jonathan Milner added: “PhoreMost is now working with pharma and biotech partners in drug discovery, applying its SITESEEKER platform to identify cryptic druggable sites, which would otherwise be impossible to find, and has the potential to significantly increase the diversity and affordability of novel therapeutics for cancer and other unmet diseases.”

Dr Hermann Hauser, co-founder of Amadeus Capital Partners, described PhoreMost as “an important disrupter in the pharmaceutical industry with the potential to improve the lives of millions suffering with untreated conditions.”

He added: “Since our original investment in 2016, PhoreMost has validated the concept behind its unique platform and developed a pipeline of candidate drug discovery assets.”

• PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS: Dr Chris Torrance

CellCentric in Cambridge has raised $26 million in private financing to fund clinical testing of its first-in-class oncology drug candidate CCS1477 to treat prostate cancer. The funds are from existing investor, Morningside Venture Investments.

The potential market for a new agent for late stage prostate cancer is highly significant with over 80,000 potential patients each year. 

The new financing will fund development of CCS1477 in this indication up to Phase IIb clinical testing.

CellCentric’s clinical programme in prostate cancer is due to start early summer 2018, initially at the Royal Marsden Hospital in the UK, before expanding nationally and then to the US. It has the potential to be rolled out to treat other cancers, notably bladder and lung.

CellCentric describes CCS1477 as “a potent, selective, orally-bioavailable inhibitor of the conserved bromodomains of twin histone acetyl transferase proteins, p300 and CBP. 

“When p300/CBP are inhibited, expression of the drivers of late-stage prostate cancer the androgen receptor (AR), AR-splice variants (AR-SV) and c-Myc, are significantly reduced. 

“Reducing AR-SV in particular is believed to address inherent or acquired resistance to existing second generation anti-androgen treatments abiraterone (Zytiga), enzalutamide (Xtandi) and apalutamide (Erleada). CCS1477 is clearly differentiated from other approaches currently in development to tackle resistance.”

Data recently presented showed CCS1477 had a profound duration of effect on tumour inhibition after drug dosing cessation, when the compound is no longer present. 

This has been shown in both models of prostate cancer and acute myeloid leukaemia. This reprogramming of cancer cell growth differentiates CCS1477 from other developmental agents, including other bromodomain inhibitors.

As well as pursuing CCS1477’s prostate cancer potential, the new funds will also allow CellCentric to explore tolerability and initial efficacy of CCS1477 in haematological cancers. Tumours with p300 or CBP mutations, notably bladder and small cell lung cancer, will also be explored.

Dr Will West, chairman and CEO of CellCentric, said: “There is a large and growing population of late-stage prostate cancer patients who have inherent or acquired resistance to current second-line anti-androgen therapies.

“CCS1477 has shown promise in addressing this. It is positioned after or in combination with second generation anti-androgen drugs such as abiraterone, enzalutamide and apalutamide.” 

Dr Jason Dinges, CellCentric board director and Morningside representative, added: “Oncology product development is highly competitive. There are few genuine first-in-class new drug opportunities which have a large but specific patient population to treat. 

“Morningside is also encouraged by new data demonstrating that p300/CBP inhibition has significant potential for other areas beyond prostate cancer. We are delighted to support the CellCentric team with their continued momentum.”

• PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS: Will West

The fourth industrial revolution is upon us! As technology continues to occupy almost every aspect of our lives, we are entering the digital age fully willing and aware, writes Kamales Lardi – Managing Partner of Lardi & Partner Consulting.

Previous industrial revolutions have been significantly ground-breaking for human kind, accelerating progress through the use of steam engines, electric power and subsequently, electronics and information technology. However, this time, the industrial revolution is set to change the way we live and work beyond our wildest imaginations. 

Characterised by a fusion of technology that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital and biological spheres, the fourth industrial revolution will mean the end of business – and life – as usual.

Disruptive technologies such as autonomous cars, drones, 3D printing, blockchain, the Internet of Things, wearables, robotics and many more are gaining momentum as an increasing number of real world use cases start to emerge. 

Traditional business models are struggling to survive under the demands of the digital economy and incumbent companies are facing the risk of extinction.

Why digital disruption matters now?

Technology-based disruptions are not new to the business world. Since the 1980s, several instances of new technologies, such as email and the Internet, have completely changed the way we do business.

Conversely, there have also been technology-based hypes that did not live up to their promise. For those who remember, the entire dotcom era comes screaming back to memory!

Experienced business leaders who have lived through the hypes will probably feel sceptical about the impact of digital disruption. Nevertheless, several factors clearly distinguish the current era of digital disruption and compel us to seriously consider its impact on the global business landscape. 

Three top factors that catalyse digital disruption are described below:-

Unprecedented pace of technology development

Over the last decade, technology development has accelerated at a dizzying pace. The relentless drop in prices of components, hardware and software have contributed to rapid manufacturing advancements. 

Additionally, each phase of technology development builds on the previous phase at an exponential rate, moving ideation and discovery forward leaps and bounds.

Today, we have open access to unparalleled processing power, unlimited storage capacity and cost effective cloud computing, which have all come together to create an ideal bedrock of technological development. 

With this, literally anyone can design, develop and test new technologies at a whim, limited only by their imagination.

Evolving consumer behaviour and preferences

There is a common misconception that millennials (born between 1980s-2000s) are the definitive digital natives. However, if we take a closer look at the consumer segments adopting new technologies, we will find that they span across all age groups.

Statistically, 50 per cent of the global population are active on the Internet, while just over 37 per cent are active social media users. As technology becomes increasingly affordable and easy to use, consumers globally are getting connected, mobile and digital-savvy.

I find that the most interesting outcome in this scenario is the fact that digital technologies are modifying consumer behaviour, permanently. For example, in just a few short years of using platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, consumers have become accustomed to new behaviour patterns. Now, when interacting with any business or brand, many consumers expect hyper-personalisation, instant gratification, seamless cross-channel experiences and 24/7 access. Companies that do not keep up are likely to get phased out.

Competitive pressure from new digital businesses

Incumbent companies initially dismissed digital based businesses as hype. However, these new entrants are becoming harder to ignore as they quickly grow and reach billion dollar valuations.

Again, this may be reminiscent of DotCom era of the late 1990s, but there is one fundamental difference. DotCom companies were built mainly based on a new technology – the Internet.

Conversely, digital entrants are building their businesses based on understanding the behaviours and preferences of digital consumers.

These entrepreneurs, many of whom are digital natives, have a strong understanding of how to apply technology to elicit insights into evolving consumer needs and create superior customer experiences.  This has enabled digital entrants to rapidly grow their consumer base to the millions, which would have been a colossal undertaking for startups of the past.

Additionally, new entrants such as Uber and Netflix have redefined the way consumers access their products and services, enabling on demand, real-time consumption.

This new competitive business landscape is forcing companies to rethink their traditional business models, existing operations, as well as archaic approach to interactions with consumers. As a result, companies are forced to explore digital technologies to stay relevant.

Go digital or go home

In a typical business environment, concerns over daily operational challenges take precedence over new or innovative solutions. This is further reinforced by top level communication and organisational metrics. 

Traditional approaches, such as creating an app or using social media to communicate with customers, only scratch the surface of digital transformation. 

Companies need to look deeper into their operations, review the evolving needs of their customers, and determine how to apply digital technologies to improve the business operations and offerings.

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Abcam has decided not to go hostile with a bid for Cambridge UK life sciences neighbour Horizon Discovery whose share price took an immediate hit.

Abcam’s share price half an hour after the announcement was down slightly to 1,237p per share while Horizon’s stock plummeted almost 16 per cent and 29.50 p to 156.50 before recovering slightly.

The Abcam board says it remains keen on strategic acquisitions but only at the right price – and that Horizon no longer fits into that bracket.

Abcam revealed last week that it had made a proposal to Horizon, a world leader in gene editing technology, but that the target business had declined to engage. Its proposal valued Horizon at 181 pence per share and reflected Abcam’s strong interest in pursuing strategic expansion in the gene editing market, which the directors believed to be highly complementary to its supply of research tools globally.

Horizon rejected the advance and has since issued a strong set of preliminary results for the year to December 31 which have convinced Abcam to step aside and not to pursue what would have been a hostile bid.

A statement issued by Abcam to the London Stock Exchange today said: “Abcam continues to execute on its vision to be the most influential life science company for researchers worldwide and remains committed to expanding its reach and influence globally.

“However, it has always been Abcam’s intention to remain disciplined about value whilst working towards a transaction with the recommendation of the board of Horizon Discovery.

“On 8 May, Horizon  published its preliminary results for the year. Having considered those results and Horizon’s view that there is little strategic rationale to combining the two companies, Abcam confirms that it does not intend to make an offer for Horizon Discovery.”

The Horizon share price has been volatile since CEO Darrin Disley (pictured above) quit earlier this year. In the wake of his departure the stock fell from 240p to 200p and then dived 30 per cent to the point when Abcam felt 181p per share respresented good value for a takeover.

Horizon’s stock rose again when shareholders thought Abcam would make a bid but today’s announcement put the skids under the share price revival.