SHIONOGI INVESTS IN NEMESIS TECHNOLOGY
Japanese Pharma Company Joins £1.4M Seed Funding Round for Nemesis Bioscience
Nemesis Bioscience today announced the completion of a Seed funding round of £1.4M from a syndicate of new investors including Shionogi & Co Ltd, Coastal International Holdings and Wren Capital in addition to existing investors the Development Bank of Wales and the UK Innovation and Science Fund.
The funds will be used to continue the clinical development of Nemesis SymbioticsÓ – DNA therapeutics that have been proven in preclinical models to reverse antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria. Nemesis intends to manufacture a suite of Symbiotics to both resurrect existing antibiotics made ineffective by increasing bacterial resistance and to protect newly developed antibiotic assets from stimulating such resistance
Commenting on Shionogi’s support for the technology and commercial plans of Nemesis, Takeshi Shiota, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Pharmaceutical Research Division said, “Shionogi has been watching the progress of Nemesis for a few years now and we have been very impressed with the team, their science and their novel approach to the problem of antibiotic resistance. We are excited to understand the potential for Nemesis SymbioticsÓ in the treatment of antibiotic resistant bacterial infections and in the protection of newly developed antimicrobials from early resistance.”
Nemesis CEO Dr Frank Massam said the company was “delighted that we have been able to attract international support for our novel technology and business approach – and in particular that we will now be able to work with Shionogi – an acknowledged global leader in anti-infective clinical development – as we move forward to market with our first-in-class companion therapeutics.
About Nemesis Bioscience Ltd
Nemesis Bioscience Ltd was founded in March 2014 by Dr Frank Massam, Professor Conrad Lichtenstein and Dr Gi Mikawa. Based in Cambridge and Cardiff, UK, the company has invented, and is developing, pioneering products that will resurrect anti-microbial therapies made ineffective by increasing microbial resistance. Nemesis will impact one of the world’s most significant clinical problems by not only treating antibiotic resistant infections, but also by preventing them in susceptible patients. Large and rapidly growing opportunities exist for the company’s products in the antibiotic, wound care and veterinary medicine markets.
For more information please contact Dr. Frank Massam +44 7786 367053 or visit www.nemesisbio.com
About Shionogi & Co., Ltd.
Shionogi & Co., Ltd. is a Japanese major research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing benefits to patients based on its corporate philosophy of “supplying the best possible medicine to protect the health and wellbeing of the patients we serve.” Shionogi Inc., the U.S. based subsidiary of Shionogi & Co., Ltd., continues this focus on the development and commercialization of high quality medicines that protect the health and well-being of the patients we serve. The company currently markets products in several therapeutic areas including anti-infectives, pain, cardiovascular diseases and gastroenterology. The company’s pipeline is focused on infectious disease, pain, CNS and oncology. For more details on Shionogi Inc., visit www.shionogi.com. For more information on Shionogi & Co., Ltd., visit www.shionogi.co.jp/en/
From Left: Prof Conrad Lichtenstein (Nemesis CSO), Dr Frank Massam (Nemesis CEO), Dr Takeshi Shiota (Shionogi SVP, Pharmaceutical Research Division) and Dr Kai Stoeber (Shionogi VP, Global Innovation)