Quell Therapeutics Secures £35 Million Series A Funding to Advance Immune T Cell Therapies and Transform Solid Organ Transplantation

VCBeat (WeChat Official Account: vcbeat) learned from foreign media that on May 20, UK time, biotechnology company Quell Therapeutics completed a £35 million Series A financing round. The funds raised will be used to support the company’s development of immune T-cell diagnostic and therapeutic solutions, assist medical teams in organ transplantation surgeries, and treat immune-related diseases.

It is reported that this round of financing was led by Syncona Partners, with participation from UCL Technology Fund. In addition, Quell Therapeutics has expanded its board of directors, and Martin Murphy, CEO of Syncona Partners, will serve as Chairman of Quell Therapeutics.

Quell Therapeutics, founded in 2019 and headquartered in London, UK, is a cell therapy company co-established by Syncona Partners and six leading experts in the field of T-cell therapeutics. The company is dedicated to developing next-generation engineered regulatory T-cell therapies, leveraging the human immune system to help patients restore their health.

T cells are crucial immune cells in the human body, capable of preventing disease. Quell Therapeutics’ primary research focuses on solid organ transplantation technologies and biologic therapies for immune-mediated diseases.

Currently, as the application of artificial organs remains in the clinical trial phase, solid organ transplantation continues to be an essential therapeutic approach for organ failure. Biological characteristics vary among individuals, leading to differences in immune system defense mechanisms. During allogeneic organ transplantation, the recipient’s body may mount an immune rejection response against the transplanted organ. Such reactions can range from mild impairment of normal physiological functions to life-threatening complications. This underscores the necessity for hospitals to conduct genetic and other compatibility tests between organ donors and recipients prior to transplantation to prevent these adverse outcomes.

The T-cell therapy developed by Quell Therapeutics can effectively prevent and treat such organ rejection responses. By artificially intervening in the immune attack program of T cells in patients, the transplanted organs are protected from T-cell attacks, thereby enabling successful transplantation. As a result, organ utilization will no longer be limited by genetic matching, and the success rate of transplantation will be significantly improved.

Sanchez-Fueyo, a co-founder of Quell Therapeutics, stated: “We are delighted to partner with Syncona Partners to establish Quell Therapeutics and jointly develop next-generation T-cell therapies. With decades of expertise within our founding team, we are confident in our ability to successfully develop novel treatments for solid organ transplantation and autoimmune diseases. Like Syncona Partners, we are committed to delivering products to patients in areas with high unmet medical needs, thereby advancing global healthcare standards.”

Syncona Partners, founded in 2012 and headquartered in London, UK, is a venture capital firm focused on investing in and building healthcare companies in the life sciences sector, with 17 investments completed to date. In addition to providing financial support, the firm assists entrepreneurs in managing their companies and scaling their operations.

The UCL Technology Fund is a co-sponsored fund of Albion Ventures LLP and University College London, headquartered in London, UK, with a total of 11 investments completed.

(Compiled by Liu Yujing)