- New oncology company created to unlock a novel class of
therapeutics targeting human leukocyte antigen (HLA) Class II
expression in a range of common cancers
- Spun out of the University of Oxford from the pioneering work
of Professor Paresh Vyas, initially starting in acute myeloid
leukaemia (AML) with broader pipeline potential across a range of
cancers
- £16.5 million in Series A funding from lead investor Syncona to
progress operational build, lead programme and potential pipeline
expansion.
Yellowstone Biosciences (“Yellowstone” or “the Company”), a
pioneer of soluble bispecific T-cell receptor (TCR)-based therapies
for human leukocyte antigen (HLA) Class II (HLA-II) targets in
oncology, launches today to unlock a new class of therapeutically
targetable, frequently expressed antigens with potential to
significantly transform patient lives. Syncona Limited (“Syncona”)
committed £16.5 million to fund the Company in progressing its
operational build, lead programme in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML),
and exploration into expanding its pipeline.
Spun out of the University of Oxford with the support of Oxford
University Innovation (OUI), Yellowstone is built around the
pioneering research of Professor Paresh Vyas, a world-renowned
scientific academic, key opinion leader and practising clinician
with a specialist focus on AML. Over 20 years, Prof. Vyas’
laboratory has collected a proprietary biobank of over 10,000
samples from over 3,000 AML patients, including a rare cohort of
patients cured by allogeneic blood cell transplantation. From this
cohort a novel set of frequently expressed peptide antigens
presented by HLA Class II were identified, which could unlock a new
class of highly selective cancer therapeutics.
With privileged access to this biobank, Yellowstone has been
formed to develop soluble bispecific TCR-based therapeutics
targeting HLA Class II presented peptides on the surface of cancer
cells in a number of cancers with high unmet need. By targeting
peptides presented by HLA-II molecules, the Company’s bispecific
T-cell engagers have the potential to selectively kill target
tumour cells, whilst sparing healthy cells. The Company will focus
initially on its lead programme in AML, which accounts for 62% of
all leukaemia deaths1 and where there is no universally agreed
standard of care for the majority of patients. Beyond AML,
Yellowstone’s technology also has the potential to extend life and
change the treatment landscape in other common solid tumours that
express HLA-II, including ovarian cancer, non-small cell lung
cancer (NSCLC), colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer,
renal cancer and melanoma.
Yellowstone will be led by a world-class management team,
including Prof. Vyas, as Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer,
and Julian Hirst, who joins as Co-founder and Chief Financial
Officer, bringing with him 20 years’ experience in biotechnology
and investment banking, including senior finance roles at
Immunocore and MiroBio. Neil Johnston also joins as Executive
Chair, having spent 17 years at Novartis, most recently as Global
Head of Business Development and Licensing. The Company will be
guided by Syncona, a leading FTSE 250 life sciences investor, who
has supported company launch and will continue to shape
Yellowstone’s operational build. Chris Hollowood, CEO of Syncona,
and Gonzalo Garcia, Investment Partner at Syncona, will hold Board
positions at Yellowstone as part of the lead investor’s ongoing
involvement.
Professor Paresh Vyas, Co-founder and Chief Scientific
Officer of Yellowstone, said: “Frequently expressed antigens
that can be targeted therapeutically are notoriously difficult to
find but, through two decades of research, we have identified a new
class of targets that have potential to treat cancer and extend
patient’s lives. We believe that our technology has the potential
to selectively kill tumour cells, whilst sparing healthy cells, in
a range of cancers. The strategy that we have built, alongside
Syncona, will initially focus on developing highly selective
TCR-based therapies for AML, where we have formidable experience
and data. Beyond that, we are committed to broadening our pipeline
to other cancer settings to maximise Yellowstone’s potential.”
Gonzalo Garcia, Investment Partner at Syncona and
Non-executive Director at Yellowstone, commented: “Yellowstone
is the latest company formed from Syncona’s model of creating and
building businesses based on exceptional science and world-class
founders. The work Prof. Vyas has undertaken in this field is truly
remarkable. Although difficult to identify, tumour-selective,
frequently expressed antigens are particularly strong cancer
targets as they allow development and manufacturing of therapies
that can treat large numbers of patients. We believe that Syncona
can build a globally leading UK company around this novel discovery
that has significant patient and commercial potential.”
Yellowstone’s academic founders received support during the spin
out from OUI’s Dr. Susan Campbell and Dr. Benedicte Menn. As part
of their ongoing involvement, OUI will hold a board observer
position at the company.
Dr Benedicte Menn, Senior Investment Manager, Oxford
University Innovation, said: "With ambition to become a world
class UK company, Yellowstone is our latest spinout from the
University of Oxford. The company has potential to treat and extend
the life of patients with different forms of cancer, starting with
acute myeloid leukaemia. We’re delighted that Yellowstone and
Syncona are partnering on this launch and look forward to tracking
the progress of the pipeline.”
About Yellowstone Biosciences
Yellowstone is a therapeutic biotechnology company working to
create highly selective targeted therapies for cancer. The company
aims to unlock a new class of therapeutically targetable,
frequently expressed antigens with potential to significantly
transform patient lives. Yellowstone utilises its proprietary
access to a unique biobank of primary samples from acute myeloid
leukaemia (AML) patients to engineer T-cell receptor (TCR)-based
bispecific T-cell engagers for a range of incurable cancers.
Leveraging this proprietary biobank and world-class protein
engineering capabilities, Yellowstone is advancing its lead
programme in AML, with pipeline potential across a range of other
common cancers exhibiting human leukocyte antigen (HLA) Class II
expression. It is headquartered in Oxford, UK, with backing from a
leading FTSE 250 healthcare company, Syncona.
For more information please visit: www.yellowstonebio.com.
About Oxford University Innovation
Oxford University Innovation (OUI) is the research
commercialisation office of the University of Oxford, recognised
worldwide for its ability to engage academic prowess through
licensing, catalyse innovative solutions through consulting
services, and support the creation of spinouts, start-ups, and
social ventures. OUI is dedicated to showcasing these
transformative technologies on the global stage, bridging the
realms of academia and the commercial world, thereby weaving a
future where knowledge, innovation and partnership drive forward
solutions to global challenges.
Find out more:
https://innovation.ox.ac.uk/portfolio/companies-formed/
Professor Vyas is part of the MRC Weatherall Institute of
Molecular Medicine and MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, part of the
Radcliffe Department of Medicine and the Medical Sciences Division
at the University of Oxford.
1 Shallis R.M. et al (2019) ‘Epidemiology of acute myeloid
leukemia: Recent progress and enduring challenges’, Blood Reviews,
36, pages 70-87. Available at
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.blre.2019.04.005
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240619160028/en/
Yellowstone Biosciences: Paresh Vyas, Co-founder and
Chief Scientific Officer Julian Hirst, Co-Founder and Chief
Financial Officer
Email: comms@yellowstonebio.com
Oxford University Innovation: Richard Woodall, Content
and Public Relations Manager
Email: richard.woodall@innovation.ox.ac.uk