Cambridge-based TRIMTECH Therapeutics, a BioTech company harnessing targeted protein degradation (TPD) for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, announced the closing of its €28.6 million Seed funding round.
The financing was led by Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC) and SV Health Investors’ Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF), with M Ventures and Pfizer Ventures joining. Additional investors also include Eli Lilly and Company, MP Healthcare Venture Management (MPH), Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, and Start Codon.
Nicola Thompson, CEO, TRIMTECH Therapeutics, said: “This oversubscribed financing round and the outstanding quality of our investor syndicate is a great endorsement of TRIMTECH’s unique approach to targeting the selective removal of aggregated proteins that underpin so many CNS diseases, and recognises our impressive scientific foundations and world class team. We extend our thanks to all of our supporters and look forward to working with the new Board members, as we now push forward with progressing the pipeline.”
Founded in 2023, TRIMTECH Therapeutic’s mission is to create novel small molecule degraders of protein aggregates that will combat neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases including Alzheimer’s disease.
It was founded by CIC and DDF in conjunction with their joint entrepreneur-in-residence, Damian Crowther, and academic Co-founders Leo James (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology) and Will McEwan (UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge).
The company’s proprietary degrader technology is focused on delivering potent CNS-penetrant small molecule heterobifunctional degraders and glues, which can rapidly remove disease-causing protein aggregates. Potent and selective removal of these toxic aggregates leaves the functional form of the target protein intact and able to support healthy cellular function.
TRIMTECH’s approach is based on more than 15 years of work by Dr Leo James and Dr William McEwan, elucidating the function and mechanism of action of the novel E3-ligase, TRIM21.
TRIMTECH is leveraging the innate properties of the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM21 to selectively and potently degrade protein aggregates associated with a range of diseases which are not well served by current TPD approaches. This approach harnesses TRIM21’s unique properties in the form of the Company’s TRIMTAC degrader molecules to develop medicines that address the needs of large patient populations with limited treatment options.
TRIMTECH has also appointed the following leading life science executives to the Board of Directors:
- Michael Anstey, Partner at Cambridge Innovation Capital)
- Laurence Barker, Partner at SV Health Investors (SV)
- Hakan Goker, Managing Director at M Ventures
- Jeffrey Moore, President at MP Healthcare Venture Management
- Marie-Claire Peakman, Partner at Pfizer Ventures.
Laurence Barker, Partner, SV Health Investors’ Dementia Discovery Fund, said: “The team at DDF is thrilled to co-lead the creation of TRIMTECH to advance its TRIMTAC platform, which harnesses TRIM21’s unique ability to degrade aggregated proteins while preserving functional monomers. While targeted protein degradation has revolutionised drug discovery, effective clearance of protein aggregates remains a major challenge. TRIMTECH’s differentiated approach directly addresses this gap, opening new possibilities for treating neurodegenerative conditions and beyond.”
Michael Anstey, Partner, Cambridge Innovation Capital, said: “CIC is proud to have been part of the creation of TRIMTECH and co-led this financing round. With over 55 million people affected by Alzheimer’s and millions more battling other neurodegenerative disorders, this groundbreaking innovation has the potential to transform the course of treatment for these patients.”
The investment will support further development of the Company’s growing pipeline of potent, CNS penetrant therapeutics based on its aggregate-selective degrader molecules known as TRIMTACs.
The pipeline is focused around the development of treatments for severe neurodegenerative and inflammatory disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease.