Newcastle-based Glythera Ltd, a biotechnology company specialising in the development of the next generation of biological therapeutics that are used in treatments for diseases like cancer, has joined up with Glasgow firm BioOutsource Ltd. www.thejournal.co.uk

Glythera Ltd

A North East drugs firm has announced a partnership with a leading contract testing organisation to help it take development of its products a step further.

Newcastle-based Glythera Ltd, a biotechnology company specialising in the development of the next generation of biological therapeutics that are used in treatments for diseases like cancer, has joined up with Glasgow firm BioOutsource Ltd.

The partnership will see BioOutsource ‘characterise’ their Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) products, PermaLink and PermaCarb, to help them ensure they meet the standards needed to be able to put them into the market.

Chief operating officer at Glythera Dr David Simpson, highlighted the value of the collaboration;

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with BioOutsource on their ADC characterisation as it is an area where our linker technologies offer significant benefits.

This partnership demonstrates recognition of these powerful capabilities and we look forward to working Ewith BioOutsource on this exciting project."

Glythera was established in Newcastle’s INEX incubator facility in 2012 after moving from Bath following an initial £600,000 investment.

The firm, a spin-out from the University of Bath, secured the money from venture capital firm IP Group and its managed fund, the Finance for Business North East Technology Fund. The move north resulted in the creation of new research and development positions.

Last year the company announced it had achieved a number of technical and commercial milestones resulting in the release of a second tranche of funding totalling £700,000 from its managed fund and the venture capitalists. Over recent weeks the firm has expanded further with the appointment of Nigel Burns as non-executive director and Ian Evetts as commercial director.

Burns said:

"I’m very excited to take on this new role at Glythera at such an important time in the company’s development. Glythera is positioned as a key player in the emerging drug therapies market and I’m delighted to join the team and look forward to helping to develop new strategies and drive the future of Glythera’s technologies and therapies."

Evetts added:

"I am extremely pleased to be involved at this exciting time and I look forward to working with the team as it continues to expand and maximise new opportunities."