UCL spinout receives $250 million to support advancement of cancer treatment

This funding is the largest ever private financing of a UK biotech company from a single source. 

Autolus Therapeutics was founded in 2014 to develop its technology that programmes immune cells to target and destroy cancer cells.

The company was developed on the work of Dr Martin Pule, an academic clinical haematologist and pioneer in T-cell engineering, based at the UCL Cancer Institute.

The formation of Autolus was supported by UCL Business (UCLB), the university’s commercialisation company (and part of UCL Innovation & Enterprise).

Autolus now employs over 400 people and has plans for a new £65 million global headquarters in Stevenage.

Professor David Price, UCL Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement) said: “Congratulations to Autolus on this well-deserved and significant achievement. This is excellent news for the future of cancer treatment and is a testament to the research and innovation of Dr Martin Pule, his colleagues and the UCL Cancer Institute. The funding will provide a solid foundation to translate the new technologies into healthcare benefits for patients.”

Read the full story on the UCL News website.

Links

Find out more about:

• Autolus
• innovation and enterprise support for UCL staff
• UCLB
• Autolus, the UCL spinout company heralding a revolution in cancer treatment
• Blackstone Life Sciences
• UCL Cancer Institute

Photo taken by Mary Hinkley © UCL Creative Media Services