BIOCAPTIVA announces oversubscribed £2.1 million additional seed financing to complete first in human trial with the BioCaptis

The financing was led by existing investor Archangels, a leading business angel syndicate, with a long track record of successfully investing in early-stage Scottish life sciences and technology companies.  It was joined by Scottish Enterprise and Cancer Research Horizons, the new innovation engine of Cancer Research UK, and new investor Old College Capital, the University of Edinburgh’s in-house venture investment fund. The investment will be used to fund the company through the first in human trials with the BioCaptis, expected to generate its first data before the end of 2022, and to prepare for regulatory trials which are planned to start in 2023.

BIOCAPTIVA’s BioCaptis can capture up to 100x more cfDNA than a conventional blood draw, increasing the quality and quantity of cfDNA available for liquid biopsy testing. This technology, by providing higher quantities of cfDNA, increases the types and stages of cancers amenable to liquid biopsy testing thereby greatly expanding the number of patients who could benefit from this approach to cancer management.

Jeremy Wheeler, CEO of BIOCAPTIVA, said “BIOCAPTIVA is at the forefront of developing technology to transform liquid biopsy testing in cancer management. We are pleased to have raised these additional funds as the company enters its next stage of development, with the BioCaptis beginning its first in human trials. These trials will allow us to generate important data before the end of 2022. This will be a key step before starting regulatory trials in 2023 as we move towards our goal of unleashing the full potential of liquid biopsy in cancer management to improve patient outcomes.”

Sarah Hardy, Director and Head of New Investments at Archangels, added: “In 2021, Archangels supported the spin-out of BIOCAPTIVA from the University of Edinburgh based on the technology developed from Professor Tim Aitman and Professor Mark Bradley’s research. Since then, the company has made remarkable progress and is poised to begin the first in-human trials with BioCaptis just over a year after its formation. We are pleased to lead this financing to support the company in generating its first in human data, and towards its ambition of ensuring that the BioCaptis device can play a key role in realizing the full potential of liquid biopsy testing for cancer management.”

Andrea Young, Fund Manager at Old College Capital, said "Old College Capital is delighted to support BIOCAPTIVA by joining this additional seed financing. The company’s technology is the result of collaborative research by two world-leading University of Edinburgh academics and its goals are perfectly aligned to the Old College Capital mandate. We look forward to working with BIOCAPTIVA and a strong syndicate of investors led by Archangels to make the BioCaptis device a success"

Kerry Sharp, Director of Entrepreneurship and Investment at Scottish Enterprise, added: “BIOCAPTIVA is an innovative and exciting company with strong growth prospects. Its BioCaptis device has the potential to really transform the way cancer is diagnosed, monitored and managed. We look forward to seeing how its first in human trials progress, followed by regulatory trials, so that one day soon this exciting new technology can be put to work for the benefit of patients.”

ENDS

About BIOCAPTIVA

BIOCAPTIVA is developing the BioCaptis, a revolutionary medical device which has the potential to transform liquid biopsy testing for cancer management, by improving early diagnosis and monitoring of disease and enhancing clinical trial data of cancer patients.

The BioCaptis captures up to 100x more cell free DNA (cfDNA) than a venous blood draw, yielding cfDNA in high quality and quantity for testing, addressing the major challenge of liquid biopsy in cancer management. This will potentially allow the testing of a far greater number of cancer types and stages in a much wider range of patients.

BIOCAPTIVA was founded in 2021 when it spun out from the University of Edinburgh. BIOCAPTIVA is based in Edinburgh and backed by Archangels Scottish Enterprise, Cancer Research Horizons, the new innovation engine of Cancer Research UK and Old College Capital, the University of Edinburgh’s in-house venture investment fund.

For more information, please visit www.biocaptiva.com and follow us on LinkedIn

About Archangels

Archangels is a prominent business angel syndicate which has been at the forefront of early stage investing in Scotland for more than a quarter of a century.

Originally formed in 1992 and based in Edinburgh, the syndicate now comprises around 120 investor members and leads investment of around £20m per year in early stage Scottish companies.

About Scottish Enterprise  

Scottish Enterprise is Scotland's national economic development agency. We’re committed to growing the Scottish economy for the benefit of all, helping create more quality jobs and a brighter future for every region.

Follow us on Twitter @scotent and @scotentnews and on LinkedIn

About Old College Capital

Old College Capital is the University of Edinburgh’s in-house venture investment fund. It aims to support the University’s research, staff and students by investing in high-growth, early stage businesses associated with the University.