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Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more

University of Sussex and o2h Ventures Announce Creation and Investment in Stingray Bio, a Company for New Oncology Drugs Targeting the LMTK3 Kinase Pathway
University of Sussex and o2h Ventures Announce Creation and Investment in Stingray Bio, a Company for New Oncology Drugs Targeting the LMTK3 Kinase Pathway
Apr 8 2021

April 2021, Cambridge, UK – o2h Ventures, a UK based fund manager through investment in its SEIS and EIS human health funds is excited to announce an investment into Stingray Bio Ltd, a new spin out from the University of Sussex supported by the Sussex Innovation Centre.

Stingray Bio is developing new novel small molecule inhibitors of the LMTK3 kinase signaling pathway to treat breast and other cancers. Stingray’s drug target rationale has been extensively validated by its founders, Professors Georgios Giamas and John Spencer of the University of Sussex.

Stingray Bio targets the neglected LMTK3 kinase signaling pathway: like many high-value treatments that target other cancer kinases, tool compound LMTK3 inhibitor drugs halt cancer growth and promote tumour regression in preclinical models. The investment will advance LMTK3 pathway modulation towards clinical application, creating valuable targeted medicines to expand treatment options for large numbers of cancer patients.

Sunil Shah, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of o2h Ventures, said: “We are delighted to be working with the University of Sussex and the founders to launch and grow Stingray Bio. We have been following the science for several years and we are now excited to support the commercialisation of the founder’s research to develop new drugs for cancer.”

Prof. Keith Jones, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research & Enterprise at the University of Sussex, said: “We are very excited to see Stingray Bio launch and attract new investment. Leveraging years of R&D support by the University of Sussex, the company demonstrates our commitment to translating ground-breaking research into valuable new businesses that will benefit the world and rebuild our regional economy.”

Peter Lane, Innovation Support Manager at Sussex Innovation, said: “It’s been tremendously rewarding to have worked closely with the University’s Innovation and Business Partnerships team and help broker this new relationship. Stingray Bio is a perfect example of the kind of enterprise we love to support, evolving a commercial model with the potential to deliver huge real-world impact from emerging research. We look forward to watching the rest of their journey as it develops from here.”

Georgios Giamas, Professor of Cancer Cell Signalling and Head of Department for Biochemistry and Biomedicine at the University of Sussex, said: “By founding and building Stingray Bio alongside my colleague Professor John Spencer, we have taken a critical next step towards exploiting our new discoveries in LMTK3 kinase signalling for the benefit of cancer patients.

“I look forward to supporting Stingray Bio as its Chief Scientific Advisor and Director, and anticipate the day when medicines targeting LMTK3 will be used to fight cancer and promote good health.”

– ENDS –

For further information:

Communications Firm

Comms contact

healthcare@optimumcomms.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

Stingray Bio Ltd

Stingray Bio, a biotechnology company headquartered in Sussex UK, is focused on the discovery and development of novel small molecule cancer therapeutics targeting the LMTK3 kinase signaling pathway. The LMTK3 kinase pathway has been extensively validated as an essential component of cancer survival and growth in breast and other common cancer types. The Company is developing novel drug inhibitors of LMTK3 kinase signalling towards diverse clinical applications. By targeting neglected but essential cancer kinases, the Company aims to generate next-generation oncology therapeutics for cancer patients.

o2h Ventures

The o2h human health SEIS Fund is the first SEIS fund in the UK solely focused on investing in SEIS qualifying seed stage companies covering novel drug discovery & AI, digital therapeutics and enabling services.

The o2h team are leaders in the biotech community and have been actively involved as investors, holding various board/industry positions as well as being engaged in grassroots scientific activity for over 20 years. o2h Ventures operates from their proprietary 2.7 acre Mill SciTech Park where they are developing a unique model for incubating small life science companies.

For more information about o2h Ventures, please visit www.o2hventures.com

University of Sussex

The University of Sussex has challenged convention since its foundation in 1961. From the campus’ modernist architecture on the edge of a rural national park, to our progressive academics and creative professional services staff, to the inspiring students who choose to learn and live here, to the very tone of the institution and the nature of its conversations, through to the expressions of radicalism, critical thinking and, at times, dissent.

The University of Sussex has a long tradition of experimentation and innovation that has made a real difference to the lives of many students, and those who benefit from our research and wider endeavours.

Our research creates new agendas, contributes new knowledge and provides new ideas and solutions that are helping to shape the world. We challenge conventional thinking and discourses, offering inspiring and creative ways to understand and solve global issues. 

For more information, Visit www.sussex.ac.uk.

Sussex Innovation Centre (SINC)

The Sussex Innovation Centre (SINC) supports the creation and growth innovative new companies from its headquarters at the University of Sussex. For over 25 years, SINC has supported new ventures created to bridge inventive research around the University and greater Sussex innovation corridor.

For more information, please visit http://www.sinc.co.uk

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Please refer to the relevant fund’s full risk warnings contained in their Information Memorandums.
Your capital is at risk. Investing in early stage businesses involves risks, including illiquidity, lack of dividends, loss of investment and dilution, and it should be done only as part of a diversified portfolio. o2h Ventures’ funds are targeted exclusively at sophisticated or high net worth investors who understand these risks and make their own investment decisions. Tax relief depends on an individual’s circumstances and may change in the future. In addition, the availability of tax relief depends on the company invested in maintaining its qualifying status. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. You should not rely on any past performance as a guarantee of future investment performance.
o2h ventures Limited is regulated and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 812245). Capital at risk, only suitable for high net worth and sophisticated investors
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Risk Information

Due to the potential for losses, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) considers this investment to be high risk

What are the key risks?

1 – You could lose all the money you invest

• If the business you invest in fails, you are likely to lose 100% of the money you invest. Most start-up businesses fail.

2 – You are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong

• Protection from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), in relation to claims against failed regulated firms, does not cover poor investment performance. Try the FSCS investment protection checker here. (https://www.fscs.org.uk/check/investment-protection-checker)

• Protection from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) does not cover poor investment performance. If you have a complaint against an FCA-regulated firm, FOS may be able to consider it. Learn more about FOS protection here. (https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumers)

3 – You won’t get your money back quickly

• Even if the business you invest in is successful, it may take several years to get your money back. You are unlikely to be able to sell your investment early.

• The most likely way to get your money back is if the business is bought by another business or lists its shares on an exchange such as the London Stock Exchange. These events are not common.

• If you are investing in a start-up business, you should not expect to get your money back through dividends. Start-up businesses rarely pay these.

4 – Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

• Putting all your money into a single business or type of investment for example, is risky. Spreading your money across different investments makes you less dependent on any one to do well.

• A good rule of thumb is not to invest more than 10% of your money in high-risk investments (https://www.fca.org.uk/investsmart/5-questions-ask-you-invest)

5 – The value of your investment can be reduced

• The percentage of the business that you own will decrease if the business issues more shares. This could mean that the value of your investment reduces, depending on how much the business grows. Most start-up businesses issue multiple rounds of shares.

• These new shares could have addition rights that your shares don’t have, such as the right to receive a fixed dividend, which could further reduce your chances of getting a return on your investment.

If you are interested in learning more about how to protect yourself, visit the FCA’s website here (https://www.fca.org.uk/investsmart)