Mission Therapeutics Presenting at The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Parkinson’s Disease Therapeutics Conference

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Preclinical data will be presented on novel USP30 inhibitors being developed as potential therapies for Parkinson’s disease

Program of research supported by grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

CAMBRIDGE, UK – 30 October 2017 – Mission Therapeutics announced that its Medical Director, CNS Translational Medicine, Dr Paul Thompson will be delivering a presentation today at the Parkinson’s Disease Therapeutics Conference in New York City. Mission Therapeutics is the leading drug discovery and development company focused on selectively targeting deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) to treat neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and other diseases with high unmet medical need.

The conference is The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF)’s 11th annual scientific conference and the only one in the world focused exclusively on Parkinson’s disease drug development.

Mission Therapeutics’ presentation, entitled “Validation of USP30 as a Therapeutic Target for Parkinson’s Disease Modification,” will be given during the “Emerging Targets Advancing Treatments Session,” between 9.00h-10.40h ET.

In his presentation, Dr Thompson will share preclinical data generated by Mission Therapeutics as part of their development of potent and selective USP30 inhibitors, ranging from simple in vitro systems through to translationally relevant stem cell-derived Parkinson’s disease models. He will outline some of the scientific mechanisms as well as the clinical potential of USP30 inhibitors in Parkinson’s disease.

USP30 is a mitochondrial-associated DUB that has been highlighted as a promising new target in Parkinson’s disease. It has been implicated in the control of mitophagy – a process that regulates the selective clearance of poorly functioning mitochondria by modifying levels of a protein called ubiquitin. Failure of mitochondrial quality control may lead to degeneration of the highly active substantia nigra neurons in the brain, a pathological mechanism that can result in Parkinson’s disease.

Dr Anker Lundemose, Chief Executive Officer of Mission Therapeutics, said:

“Being invited to speak at The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Parkinson’s Disease Therapeutics Conference, as well as receiving a grant from the organisation, is a great honour. It is also an endorsement of the potential clinical utility of inhibiting USP30 as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease. In the immediate term the data from our studies are promoting our understanding of the scientific mechanisms and consequences of USP30 inhibition in Parkinson’s disease. They also inform our active USP30 inhibitor preclinical development strategy.”

Mission Therapeutics and the University of Oxford were awarded a grant from MJFF in April 2017.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Mission Therapeutics Ltd
Anker Lundemose MD PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +44 (0)1223 607 360

Instinctif Partners
Melanie Toyne-Sewell / Eileen Paul / Priya Kalia
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7457 2020
missiontherapeutics@instinctif.com

Westwicke Partners (U.S.)
Chris Brinzey
Tel: +1 339-970-2843
Chris.brinzey@westwicke.com

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Mission Therapeutics

Mission Therapeutics is an early-stage drug development company targeting the ubiquitin pathway for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease, fibrosis, inflammation, cancer and other diseases of unmet need. The Company has built a leading platform for the discovery and development of first-in-class, small-molecule drugs that selectively target deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) – an emerging drug class that is attracting significant commercial interest in the area of protein homeostasis.

Mission has strong links with key academic and research centers, including Prof. Jackson’s Cancer Research UK Laboratories at the University of Cambridge Gurdon Institute, and leading UK centres in neurodegenerative diseases. The Company is managed by a team with broad international, commercial and clinical-science experience.

In February 2016, the Company completed an $86m financing that was led by Imperial Innovations and Woodford Patient Capital Trust and included participation from existing investors Sofinnova Partners, Roche Venture Fund, Pfizer Venture Investments and SR One. Mission Therapeutics was founded in 2011 and is based at the Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK.

Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, degenerative neurological disorder that affects one in 100 people over age 60. There is no objective test, or biomarker for Parkinson’s disease, so the rate of misdiagnosis can be relatively high. Estimates of the number of people living with the disease therefore vary, but recent research indicates that at least one million people in the United States, and more than five million worldwide, have the disease.

About the Parkinson’s Disease Therapeutics Conference
The Parkinson’s Disease Therapeutics Conference brings together 300 research and business development professionals from both academia and industry and showcases the most exciting and innovative research from The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s research portfolio. Novel advances in basic and translational research from both academic and industry labs are highlighted through speaker presentations and a poster session. The event is a platform for field leaders to share new and unpublished results and for fostering new relationships and collaborations.

Mission Therapeutics’ Scientists Highlight Significance of Deubiquitylating Enzymes (DUBs) as Key Drug Targets

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Keynote Nature article reviews drug discovery opportunities in multiple disease areas of unmet need

CAMBRIDGE, UK – 29 September 2017 – An article entitled “Deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) and drug discovery: emerging opportunities,” written by the drug discovery team at Mission Therapeutics was published online today in the scientific journal Nature Reviews Drug Discovery.

The peer-reviewed article outlines how understanding the physiological and pathophysiological roles of human DUBs has accelerated over the past decade. It also highlights how elucidating the biological complexities of this enzyme family is providing opportunities for the development of potentially transformative therapies for a range of clinical indications.

The article is authored by Company co-founders and scientists, including Dr Jeanine A. Harrigan and Professor Steve Jackson FRS.

DUBs comprise a group of some 100 proteins that are known to play important roles in regulating ubiquitylation, the process whereby ubiquitin – a small protein so called because it is present in all complex organisms and virtually all cells in the body – controls protein homeostasis, protein activity, intracellular location, and sub-cellular turnover or degradation.

The clinical development of DUB inhibitors initially proved challenging, in large part due to issues linked to specificity and selectivity. However, recent progress in DUB enzymology, biology and technological developments, described in the review, has confirmed that DUBs are druggable, novel therapeutic targets. As a result, first-generation inhibitors are now moving into, or are on the threshold of entering, patient trials in a number of clinical settings.

Professor Steve Jackson, Co-Founder and CSO, Mission Therapeutics, and senior author on the paper, commented: “This article in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery covers seminal advances that have yielded critical insights into DUB target biology and chemistry over the past decade. A strong foundation in DUB research has been fundamental to Mission Therapeutics’ novel target validation and drug discovery platforms. To date, the platform has demonstrated the diverse clinical potential of novel chemistries selectively targeting different members of the DUB enzyme class.”

Dr Anker Lundemose, Chief Executive Officer, Mission Therapeutics, added: “This review showcases Mission’s leadership position and strength in the DUB field. It also re-enforces the value of our proprietary DUB platform for the discovery and development of first-in-class drugs that selectively target specific disease-associated DUBs. We are now progressing several programmes through preclinical development exemplifying our platform’s translational potential.”

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Mission Therapeutics Ltd

Anker Lundemose MD PhD

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +44 (0)1223 607 360

 

Instinctif Partners

Melanie Toyne-Sewell / Eileen Paul / Priya Kalia

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7457 2020

missiontherapeutics@instinctif.com

 

Westwicke Partners (U.S.)

Chris Brinzey

Tel: +1 339-970-2843

Chris.brinzey@westwicke.com

  

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Mission Therapeutics

Mission Therapeutics is an early-stage drug development company targeting the ubiquitin pathway for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease, fibrosis, inflammation, cancer and other diseases of unmet need. The Company has built a leading platform for the discovery and development of first-in-class, small-molecule drugs that selectively target deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) – an emerging drug class that is attracting significant commercial interest in the area of protein homeostasis.

Mission has strong links with key academic and research centers, including Prof. Jackson’s Cancer Research UK Laboratories at the University of Cambridge Gurdon Institute, and leading UK centres in neurodegenerative diseases. The Company is managed by a team with broad international, commercial and clinical-science experience.

In February 2016, the Company completed an $86m financing that was led by Imperial Innovations and Woodford Patient Capital Trust and included participation from existing investors Sofinnova Partners, Roche Venture Fund, Pfizer Venture Investments and SR One. Mission Therapeutics was founded in 2011 and is based at the Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK.

 

Mission Therapeutics Appoints Scientific Advisory Board

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Cambridge, UK – 27 June 2017 – Mission Therapeutics, a drug discovery and development company focused on selectively targeting deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) to treat serious diseases including mitochondrial diseases, neurodegeneration, inflammation and cancer, today announced the formation of its inaugural Scientific Advisory Board (SAB).

Mission’s co-founder and CSO, Professor Steve Jackson, FRS, FMedSci will chair the SAB, where he will be joined by four independent, internationally renowned scientists:

  • Professor Sir Philip Cohen, FRS, FRSE, FFMedSci, FAA, Professor of Enzymology and Deputy Director of the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland
  • Professor Patrick Chinnery, FRCP FMedSci, Head of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, England
  • Professor Jacob Corn, Director at the Innovative Genomics Institute, and Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, USA
  • Professor Titia Sixma, Group Leader and Head of Biochemistry Division at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Professor at Erasmus MC Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Mission has built a leadership position and strength in the DUB field, and the SAB will provide strategic advice to the Company as it shapes and progresses its therapeutic programs and pipeline of first-in-class DUB inhibitors.

On welcoming the members to the SAB, Dr. Anker Lundemose, Mission’s CEO, said:
“We have attracted a prestigious group of experts to our Scientific Advisory Board, where they bring a wealth of experience across, cell signaling, posttranslational modifications, mitochondrial diseases, neurodegeneration and oncology.

“The formation of this Board will help drive forward the clear clinical potential of our unique DUB platform for the production of first-in-class compounds targeting specific disease-associated DUBs for key indications where effective therapies are currently unavailable. The SAB members’ insights and guidance will prove invaluable as we prioritize and advance our programs.”

Biographies

Professor Steve Jackson, FRS, FMedSci
Prof. Jackson’s research and discoveries in protein ubiquitylation and deubiquitylation led to the founding of Mission to explore new therapeutic opportunities across various disease areas. He is Professor of Biology at the University of Cambridge and Head of Cancer Research UK Laboratories at the Gurdon Institute, Cambridge. As a pioneer in the field of DNA repair and DNA-damage signalling, Prof. Jackson’s research has shaped our understanding of cellular responses to DNA damage and of how defects in these responses contribute to disease. Prof Jackson founded KuDOS Pharma that was acquired by AstraZeneca in 2006. Olaparib, which was developed by KuDOS, was approved for advanced BRCA+ ovarian cancer in USA and Europe in 2014.

Professor Sir Philip Cohen, FRS, FRSE, FMedSci
For 45 years, Prof. Cohen has studied protein phosphorylation in cell regulation and human disease, and made various major contributions to the field. He is now working to unravel signaling networks within the innate immune system involving protein ubiquitylation and phosphorylation during bacterial and viral infections. Prof Cohen is also involved in commercial activities based in Dundee and is frequently cited as the magnet for academics and biotechnology companies and economic regeneration, as 15% of the Dundee economy is from biotech and its employees.

Professor Patrick Chinnery, FRCP FMedSci
Prof. Chinnery began research studying links between mitochondrial DNA and human disease, and is interested in mechanisms of mitochondrial inheritance. His research has involved identifying nuclear and mitochondrial gene defects causing mitochondrial disorders, dissecting downstream disease mechanisms and studying molecular and cellular bases of mitochondrial DNA inheritance – most recently through the UK 100,000 Genomes Project. His active clinical translational research studies the natural history of mitochondrial diseases linked to development of new treatments. Prof. Chinnery has an interest in mitochondrial mechanisms in common diseases, particularly neurodegenerative disorders.

Professor Jacob Corn
Over the last fifteen years Prof. Corn has bridged academia and industry, working in therapeutic areas that include infectious disease, neurobiology, and oncology. He has an interdisciplinary approach to determine cellular mechanisms underlying human disease, with a particular interest in genome editing, DNA repair, and ubiquitin signaling. Prof. Corn is interested in new models for collaboration between academia and industry, mentoring at the interface of these two areas, and promoting entrepreneurship. His research aims to “bring about the end of genetic disease through the development and application of next-generation genome editing technologies.” Prof. Corn is dedicated to improving human health through understanding of disease mechanisms.

Professor Titia Sixma
Prof. Sixma’s research group studies ubiquitin conjugation/deconjugation and DNA repair using a combination of structural methods and biochemistry to understand basic cellular processes. Her aim is to understand structural aspects of the errors that occur in cell biology that lead to cancer development. A major aspect of Prof. Sixma’s work uses protein crystallography, biochemical and biophysical techniques to understand the catalytic activities of deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) and how they are regulated by protein partners, cofactors and other domains outside the DUB catalytic subunit. She also collaborates with cell biologists to improve understanding of carcinogenesis as well as the molecular mechanisms that could provide a basis for novel and/or improved drug design.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Mission Therapeutics
Mission Therapeutics is discovering and developing first-in-class therapeutics that inhibit disease-associated deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) involved in serious diseases including mitochondrial diseases, neurodegeneration, inflammation and cancer.

Mission has built a proprietary world-leading DUB platform that is generating a rich pipeline of highly potent and specific small molecule drug candidates. These candidates have excellent clinical and commercial potential. Using patient selection strategies, the Company is now progressing several programs towards clinical development.

The Company has strong collaborations with key academic and research centers including Cancer Research UK Laboratories & Gurdon Institute at University of Cambridge, Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre at University of Oxford, and the Wellcome Trust Mitochondrial Research Centre at Newcastle University.

In February 2016, Mission completed an $86m financing that was led by Touchstone Innovations and Woodford Patient Capital Trust, and included participation from existing investors Sofinnova Partners, Roche Venture Fund, Pfizer Venture Investments and SR One.

Mission Therapeutics was founded in 2011 and its leadership team comprises international, commercial and scientific experience. The Company is based at the Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK.

Find out more about Mission Therapeutics at www.missiontherapeutics.com or follow @MISSIONTherapeu.

About deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs)
DUBs comprise a group of around 100 proteins that play important roles in regulating ubiquitylation. This process is where ubiquitin – a small regulatory protein so called because it is present in all complex organisms and virtually every all cells in the body – controls protein homeostasis, protein activity, intracellular location, and sub-cellular turnover or degradation.

For more information, contact:

Mission Therapeutics Ltd
Anker Lundemose MD PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 497199

Instinctif Partners
Melanie Toyne-Sewell / Eileen Paul / Priya Kalia
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7457 2029 / +44 (0) 20 7457 2061
missiontherapeutics@instinctif.com

Westwicke Partners (U.S.)
Chris Brinzey
Tel: +1 339-970-2843
chris.brinzey@westwicke.com

Mission Therapeutics nominated as Biotech and Money 2017 Awards Double Finalist

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Cambridge, UK – 9 June 2017 – Mission Therapeutics, a drug discovery and development company focused on selectively targeting deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) to treat cancer, neurodegenerative and other diseases, has been announced as a finalist in two categories for the Biotech and Money 2017 Awards.

The Biotech and Money 2017 Awards celebrate funding, finance and investment successes over the past 12 months across the British Life Sciences sector.

Mission has been nominated for UK Growth Life Sciences Company of the Year and UK Life Science Private CEO of the Year.

The first nomination is for Mission’s novel approach to treating a range of clinical indications by targeting human DUBs and overcoming specificity and selectivity barriers, progressing the development of promising therapies. The second nomination is for CEO Anker Lundemose, who has played a pivotal role in in Mission’s transition from discovery to clinical development, leveraging over two and a half decades of biopharma expertise.

At last year’s Awards, Mission won the ‘One to Watch’ Private UK Life Science Company of the Year Award.

Winners of each category are determined on the basis of online voting (which can be done here http://bit.ly/2r8Zne2) and a live voting session during the Awards dinner, which will be held on 14 September in London.

Details of the event are here: Biotech and Money Assembly and Awards Gala Dinner

  

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Mission Therapeutics

Mission Therapeutics is an early-stage drug development company targeting the ubiquitin pathway for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease, inflammation, cancer and other diseases of unmet need. The Company has built a leading platform for the discovery and development of first-in-class, small-molecule drugs that selectively target deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) – an emerging drug class that is attracting significant commercial interest in the area of protein homeostasis.

Mission has strong links with key academic and research centers, including Prof. Jackson’s Cancer Research UK Laboratories at the University of Cambridge Gurdon Institute, and leading UK centres in neurodegenerative diseases. The Company is managed by a team with broad international, commercial and clinical-science experience.

In February 2016, the Company completed an $86m financing that was led by Imperial Innovations and Woodford Patient Capital Trust and included participation from existing investors Sofinnova Partners, Roche Venture Fund, Pfizer Venture Investments and SR One. Mission Therapeutics was founded in 2011 and is based at the Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK.

About Biotech and Money Awards 2017

Biotech and Money Assembly and Awards is a 250 person Gala Dinner celebrating the UK’s funding, finance and investment successes in the sector over the last 12 months. Leading lights and emerging stars, C-suite executives, impactful investors and powerful KOLs in the sector will be celebrating at one of London’s finest banqueting halls; Merchant Taylors Hall on 14th September 2017, from 6pm-11pm.

For more information, please visit the website: http://www.biotechandmoney.com/gala-dinner

For more information, please contact:

Mission Therapeutics Ltd

Anker Lundemose MD PhD

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +44 (0) 1223 497199

Instinctif Partners

Melanie Toyne-Sewell / Eileen Paul / Priya Kalia

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7457 2020

missiontherapeutics@instinctif.com

Westwicke Partners (U.S.)

Chris Brinzey

Tel: +1 339-970-2843

chris.brinzey@westwicke.com

Mission Therapeutics and University of Oxford Awarded Research Grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation

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Collaborative team to progress novel USP30 inhibitors to develop potential therapies for Parkinson’s disease

CAMBRIDGE, UK – 11 April 2017 – On World Parkinson’s day, Mission Therapeutics, a drug discovery and development company focused on selectively targeting deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) to treat neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and other diseases with high unmet medical need, announced that it has been awarded a grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF).

This research grant will support the testing of Mission Therapeutics’ potent and selective USP30-targeted inhibitors in translationally relevant stem cell-derived Parkinson’s disease models developed by Professor Richard Wade-Martins and his research group at the University of Oxford.

USP30, a mitochondrial associated DUB, has been implicated in the control of mitophagy – a process where dysfunctional mitochondria are selectively cleared from the cell. Failure of mitochondrial quality control may lead to degeneration of the highly active substantia nigra neurons in the brain, a pathological mechanism which results in Parkinson’s disease.

The inhibition of USP30 is being studied by Mission Therapeutics to see if this promotes mitophagy and thus improves cellular resilience in this and other neurodegenerative diseases. The objective of the research collaboration with Professor Richard Wade-Martins is to test Mission’s potent and selective USP30 inhibitors in a range of disease models – induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC)-derived from patients with sporadic and familial Parkinson’s disease.

Shalini Padmanabhan, PhD, Associate Director of Research Programs at MJFF:
“USP30 is one of the more promising DUBs associated with mitophagy, in terms of published data and feasibility of compound development. We hope that this collaboration between Mission Therapeutics and Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre will promote our understanding of the mechanisms and consequences of USP30 inhibition in Parkinson’s disease.”

Dr Michael Koslowski, Executive Vice President, Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer of Mission Therapeutics, added:
“Receiving funding from the Michael J. Fox Foundation is a great accolade, recognizing the quality of the research being done by Mission Therapeutics and Prof. Wade-Martins and his group. The collaborative study will provide key data that will guide the clinical development strategy of our USP30 inhibitor programme. We are working hard to find new ways in which to tackle this difficult disease, which is especially highlighted during this World Parkinson Awareness week, for patients and their families.”

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, degenerative neurological disorder that affects one in 100 people over age 60. There is no objective test, or biomarker, for Parkinson’s disease, so the rate of misdiagnosis can be relatively high. Estimates of the number of people living with the disease therefore vary, but recent research indicates that at least one million people in the United States, and more than five million worldwide, have Parkinson’s disease.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Mission Therapeutics Ltd
Anker Lundemose MD PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 497199

Instinctif Partners
Melanie Toyne-Sewell / Eileen Paul / Priya Kalia
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7457 2020
missiontherapeutics@instinctif.com

Westwicke Partners (U.S.)
Chris Brinzey
Tel: +1 339-970-2843
Chris.brinzey@westwicke.com

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Mission Therapeutics

Mission Therapeutics, an early-stage drug development company targeting the ubiquitin pathway for the treatment of cancer, neurodegenerative, and other diseases of unmet need. The Company has built a leading platform for the discovery and development of first-in-class, small-molecule drugs that selectively target deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) – an emerging drug class that is attracting significant commercial interest in the area of protein homeostasis.

Mission has strong links with key academic and research centers, including Cancer Research UK Laboratories and the University of Cambridge’s Jackson Laboratories at the Gurdon Institute, and a leadership team that has broad international, commercial and scientific experience.

In February 2016, the Company completed an $86m financing that was led by Imperial Innovations and Woodford Patient Capital Trust and included participation from existing investors Sofinnova Partners, Roche Venture Fund, Pfizer Venture Investments and SR One. Mission Therapeutics was founded in 2011 and is based at the Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK.

About the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

As the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research, the Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson’s disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson’s patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers.

In addition to funding more than $700 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson’s research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson’s disease clinical trials

Mission Therapeutics Appoints Dr Anne Phelan as Senior Vice President, Head of Discovery Research

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CAMBRIDGE, UK – 20 March 2017 – Mission Therapeutics, a drug discovery and development company focused on selectively targeting deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) to treat cancer, neurodegenerative and other diseases, announced the appointment of Dr Anne Phelan as Senior Vice President, Head of Discovery Research, effective 20 March 2017.

Dr Phelan has spent over 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry and brings with her a wealth of drug discovery experience across a number of therapy areas as well as operational knowledge. She joins Mission from BenevolentAI (formerly Stratified Medical), where she served as VP, Drug Discovery. Previously, she held a number of senior positions within Pfizer including COO and Head of Pharmacology at Pfizer Neusentis in Cambridge UK.

Dr Phelan obtained her undergraduate and doctoral degrees in Genetics from the University of Liverpool, and carried out her post-doctoral training at the MRC Institute of Virology in Glasgow.

Commenting on the appointment, Dr Anker Lundemose, Chief Executive Officer, said:

“Anne’s appointment further reinforces our scientific expertise and operational capabilities as we consolidate our DUB discovery platform and focus on identifying novel disease targets and producing next generation compounds. She will play an invaluable role as we continue to build our internal pipeline and prioritise novel therapeutic programmes for pre-clinical and clinical development. We are pleased to welcome Anne to our leadership team.”

Dr Anne Phelan newly appointed SVP, Head of Discovery Research, added: “Mission has rapidly earned a reputation as a leading biotech in the Cambridge, UK area. The Company’s science and unique DUB platform, with applicability across numerous therapeutic areas, is impressive and has significant commercial potential. I am looking forward to working alongside Mission’s highly experienced and ambitious leadership team to advance its programmes beyond the discovery phase.”

 

For more information:

CONTACT:

 Mission Therapeutics Ltd

Anker Lundemose MD PhD

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +44 (0) 1223 497199

Instinctif Partners

Melanie Toyne-Sewell / Eileen Paul / Priya Kalia

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7457 2029 / +44 (0) 20 7457 2061

missiontherapeutics@instinctif.com

 Westwicke Partners (U.S.)

Chris Brinzey

Tel: +1 339-970-2843

Chris.brinzey@westwicke.com

  

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Mission Therapeutics

Mission Therapeutics, an early-stage drug development company targeting the ubiquitin pathway for the treatment of cancer, neurodegenerative, and other diseases of unmet need. The Company has built a leading platform for the discovery and development of first-in-class, small-molecule drugs that selectively target deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) – an emerging drug class that is attracting significant commercial interest in the area of protein homeostasis.

Mission has strong links with key academic and research centers, including Cancer Research UK Laboratories and the University of Cambridge’s Jackson Laboratories at the Gurdon Institute, and a leadership team that has broad international, commercial and scientific experience.

In February 2016, the Company completed an $86m financing that was led by Imperial Innovations and Woodford Patient Capital Trust and included participation from existing investors Sofinnova Partners, Roche Venture Fund, Pfizer Venture Investments and SR One.

Mission Therapeutics was founded in 2011 and is based at the Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK.

 

 

Mission Therapeutics Appoints Colin Goddard as Chairman

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Michael Moore Transitions to Deputy Chairman

CAMBRIDGE, UK – 5 December 2016 – Mission Therapeutics, a drug discovery and development company focused on selectively targeting deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) to treat cancer, neurodegenerative and other diseases, announces that Dr Colin Goddard has been appointed as non-executive Chairman, effective January 1st 2017. Dr Colin Goddard joined the board of Mission Therapeutics as a non-executive Director in July 2015. Michael Moore, Mission’s Founder Chairman, will continue on the board and transition to the role of Deputy Chairman.

Dr Michael Moore, Mission Therapeutics retiring Chairman, said: “On behalf of the Board, it gives me great pleasure to welcome Colin in his new role as the Company progresses to the next phase of its evolution. I look forward to continuing to work with him and the Board of Directors as, together with an outstanding management team we continue to shape the Company’s strategy. Colin’s timely accession extents the business reach of Mission commensurate with the significant advances in R&D.”

Dr Colin Goddard, newly appointed Chairman of Mission Therapeutics, added: “I would like to thank Michael for his guidance and support since joining the Board and I look forward to working with the Executive team and my Board colleagues as we build on Mission’s achievements to date. I firmly believe that the Company’s innovative DUB platform can yield transformational, first in class new therapies that address a broad range of unmet clinical needs.”

Dr Anker Lundemose, CEO of Mission Therapeutics, said: “We would like to thank Michael for his robust support and broad expertise during the formative period of the Company and for his role in nurturing the establishment of a powerful drug discovery platform and emerging product pipeline. Colin has a long track record of leadership and success in the industry including as Executive Chairman and CEO of both public and private US biopharma companies and we look forward to leveraging his experience as we exploit our pipeline and transition into a clinical stage company.”

Prior to joining Mission Therapeutics, Dr Goddard was Chief Executive Officer of OSI Pharmaceuticals. He joined the company as a research scientist in 1989 and led the transformation from a technology platform services company into a profitable fully integrated biopharmaceutical organisation, becoming CEO in 1998. He was pivotal in the registration and launch of OSI’s targeted therapeutic product, Tarceva (erlotinib) and also directed the Company’s financing, corporate development and acquisition strategies, completing several major acquisitions and divestitures and raising over $1.5bn in capital. OSI was acquired by Astellas Pharma Inc. in June 2010 for $4bn.

Dr Goddard obtained his PhD in cancer pharmacology from the University of Aston in Birmingham, UK and worked at the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, before joining OSI. He currently serves as Chairman & CEO of US based Biotech company, BlinkBio, Inc and as a Director on the boards of Endocyte Inc (NASDAQ: ECYT). He was formerly a Director at Human Genome Sciences Inc.

 

ENDS

For more information:

CONTACT:

Mission Therapeutics Ltd

Anker Lundemose MD PhD

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +44 1223 497199

 

Hume Brophy

Conor Griffin, Alexia Faure, Alex Protsenko

Email: Missiontherapeutics@humebrophy.com

Tel: +44 20 7862 6381

 

Westwicke Partners (U.S.)

Chris Brinzey

Chris.brinzey@westwicke.com

339-970-2843

 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

 

About Mission Therapeutics

Mission Therapeutics, an early-stage drug development company targeting the ubiquitin pathway for the treatment of cancer, neurodegenerative, and other diseases of unmet need. The Company has built a leading platform for the discovery and development of first-in-class, small-molecule drugs that selectively target deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) – an emerging drug class that is attracting significant commercial interest in the area of protein homeostasis. Mission has strong links with key academic and research centers, including Cancer Research UK Laboratories and the University of Cambridge’s Jackson Laboratories at the Gurdon Institute, and a leadership team that has broad international, commercial and scientific experience. In February 2016, the Company completed an $86m financing that was led by Imperial Innovations and Woodford Patient Capital Trust and included participation from existing investors Sofinnova Partners, Roche Venture Fund, Pfizer Venture Investments and SR One. Mission Therapeutics was founded in 2011 and is based at the Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK.

 

 

 

Mission Therapeutics to Attend and Present at Conferences in October and November 2016

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CAMBRIDGE, UK – 13 October 2016 – Mission Therapeutics, a drug discovery and development company focused on selectively targeting deubiquitylating enzymes to treat cancer, neurodegenerative and other diseases, today announced that the company is scheduled to attend the following events:

(1) ELRIG Drug Discovery 2016

13-14 October 2016, ACC, Liverpool, UK

The Drug Discovery meeting will feature over 50 world-class speakers in six main session tracks, each highlighting the latest scientific breakthroughs and new approaches that are driving this success. This conference will explore innovative technologies and approaches that can be used to overcome drug development challenges, and bring together industry leaders who will discuss future opportunities for novel therapeutic discovery.

(2) The Lancet Neurology Conference

19-21 October 2016, Park Plaza Riverbank, London, UK

The Lancet Neurology Conference aims to disseminate cutting-edge findings on preclinical neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington’s disease. The event will provide a unique platform for specialists to come together across disciplines for an authoritative discussion of the methodological, regulatory, and ethical considerations of research in people at asymptomatic states of neurodegenerative disease.

(3) The Parkinson’s Disease Therapeutics Conference

24 October 2016, Convene Midtown East, New York, USA

Michael Koslowski, CMO, to attend the event

The Parkinson’s Disease Therapeutics Conference is The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s annual scientific conference focused exclusively on Parkinson’s disease drug development. The event brings together 300 research and business development professionals from both academia and industry and showcases the most exciting and innovative research. Novel advances in basic and translational research from both academic and industry labs are highlighted through speaker presentations and a poster session. The event is a platform for field leaders to share new and unpublished results and for fostering new relationships and collaborations.

(4) SR One Leaders Retreat

25 October 2016, Miami, Florida, US

Anker Lundemose, CEO, to attend the event

SR One is the corporate venture capital arm of GlaxoSmithKline. The firm invests globally in emerging life science companies that are pursuing innovative science which will significantly impact medical care. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2015, SR One has invested $1B in more than 170 companies, and its current portfolio includes 40 private and public companies.

(5) BIO-Europe

7-9 November 2016, Cologne, Germany

Paul Wallace, CBO, to attend the conference

BIO-Europe is Europe’s largest partnering conference serving the global biotechnology industry. The conference attracts leading dealmakers from biotech, pharma and finance along with exciting emerging companies. BIO-Europe is regarded as a “must attend” event for the biotech industry.

(6) Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference

16-17 November 2016, The Waldorf Hilton Hotel, London, UK

Anker Lundemose, CEO, and David Luther, CFO, to attend the event

The two-day event will include company presentations, thematic panel discussions, 1×1 investor meetings and, as a continuing unique feature, business-to-business meetings. This global gathering of leading healthcare executives and institutional, private equity and venture capital investors will address near- and long-term investment opportunities and discuss the mechanisms driving global healthcare.

(7) Biotech and Money Inv€$tival Showcase

18 November 2016, The Waldorf Hilton Hotel, London, UK

Anker Lundemose, CEO, to present at the event

Biotech and Money are hosting the Biotech and Money Inv€$tival Showcase, in exclusive partnership with Jefferies LLC. The event showcases the latest investable public and private life science opportunities. Companies ranging from the latest start-ups through to growing public companies, will present to an audience of global investors and pharma. The conference enables investors to uncover and identify investable opportunities with 1-2-1 partnering throughout the day.

For further events, please visit the MISSION Therapeutics website

For more information:

CONTACT:

Mission Therapeutics Ltd

Anker Lundemose MD PhD

Chief Executive Officer

Tel +44 1223 497199

Hume Brophy

Mary Clark, Eva Haas, Hollie Vile

Email: missiontherapeutics@humebrophy.com

Tel: +44 20 7862 6390

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Mission Therapeutics

Mission Therapeutics was founded in 2011 to commercialise expert research into the ubiquitin pathway for the treatment of cancers and non-malignant disease. It has built a world-leading platform for the discovery and development of first-in-class, small molecule drugs that selectively target deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) – an emerging, and hitherto intractable, drug class that is attracting significant commercial interest as the potential ‘Next Kinase Area’.

DUBs are involved in multiple cellular processes, including DNA damage response and cell proliferation, and the inhibition of these enzymes has considerable potential for the generation of novel drugs for treating cancer and other unmet medical needs, including neurodegenerative disease, muscle wasting and infectious disease. Despite significant efforts within the pharmaceutical sector, there is a lack of DUB inhibitors in clinical development.

Mission’s leadership team has a wealth of international, commercial and scientific experience and the company has strong links with key academic and research centers including Cancer Research UK laboratories and the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge. Professor Steve Jackson at Cancer Research UK laboratories and the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge is the scientific founder of Mission and is the Chief Scientific Officer of the Company.

Mission Therapeutics has to date received £87 million in venture capital from a blue chip syndicate comprising institutional and corporate investors and was awarded a £1.9 million grant from Innovate UK in September 2015. In February 2016, the Company raised £60 million in a Series C financing led by Imperial Innovations and new investor Woodford Patient Capital Trust. It included follow-on investment from existing shareholders Sofinnova Partners, SR One, Roche Venture Fund and Pfizer Venture Investments. Mission is based at the Babraham Research Campus, south of Cambridge.

 

Dr Michael Koslowski listed in the top 20 translational researchers

/in

CAMBRIDGE, UK – 6 October 2016 – Mission Therapeutics, a drug discovery and development company focused on selectively targeting deubiquitylating enzymes to treat cancer, neurodegenerative and other diseases, is pleased to announce that its Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael Koslowski has been listed as one of the 20 top translational researchers of 2015 in Nature Biotechnology. Based on the number of patents granted, the annual ranking of faculty is published in the bioentrepreneur section of the publication.

Michael Koslowski was granted 10 patents in 2015. His most cited patents titles include monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of cancer and the identification of tumour-associated antigens for diagnosis and therapy.

Dr Anker Lundemose, CEO of Mission Therapeutics, said: “We are very pleased that Michael has been recognised for his stellar work to date, and are delighted that he is part of our team to support our growth strategy as we continue to transition our business into a clinical stage organisation. Michael’s experience and in-depth knowledge of clinical development enables us to further advance our DUB platform. With a wealth of international, commercial and scientific experience, our team continues to create and deliver value from the diverse therapeutic opportunities generated by our discovery platform.”

The full ranking can be found here:

http://www.nature.com/bioent/2016/160901/full/bioe.2016.9.html

For more information:

CONTACT:

Mission Therapeutics Ltd

Anker Lundemose MD PhD

Chief Executive Officer

Tel +44 1223 497199

Hume Brophy

Mary Clark, Eva Haas, Hollie Vile

Email: missiontherapeutics@humebrophy.com

Tel: +44 20 7862 6390

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Mission Therapeutics

Mission Therapeutics was founded in 2011 to commercialise expert research into the ubiquitin pathway for the treatment of cancers and non-malignant disease. It has built a world-leading platform for the discovery and development of first-in-class, small molecule drugs that selectively target deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) – an emerging, and hitherto intractable, drug class that is attracting significant commercial interest as the potential ‘Next Kinase Area’.

DUBs are involved in multiple cellular processes, including DNA damage response and cell proliferation, and the inhibition of these enzymes has considerable potential for the generation of novel drugs for treating cancer and other unmet medical needs, including neurodegenerative disease, muscle wasting and infectious disease. Despite significant efforts within the pharmaceutical sector, there is a lack of DUB inhibitors in clinical development.

Mission’s leadership team has a wealth of international, commercial and scientific experience and the company has strong links with key academic and research centers including Cancer Research UK laboratories and the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge. Professor Steve Jackson at Cancer Research UK laboratories and the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge is the scientific founder of Mission and is the Chief Scientific Officer of the Company.

Mission Therapeutics has to date received £87 million in venture capital from a blue chip syndicate comprising institutional and corporate investors and was awarded a £1.9 million grant from Innovate UK in September 2015. In February 2016, the Company raised £60 million in a Series C financing led by Imperial Innovations and new investor Woodford Patient Capital Trust. It included follow-on investment from existing shareholders Sofinnova Partners, SR One, Roche Venture Fund and Pfizer Venture Investments. Mission is based at the Babraham Research Campus, south of Cambridge.

 

Mission Therapeutics wins ‘One to Watch’ Private UK Life Science Company of the Year

/in

CAMBRIDGE, UK – 7 September 2016 – Mission Therapeutics, a drug discovery and development company focused on selectively targeting deubiquitylating enzymes to treat cancer, neurodegenerative and other diseases, is pleased to announce it has won the “One to Watch Private UK Life Science Company of the Year” Award at the Biotech & Money 2016 Awards Dinner.

Dr Anker Lundemose, CEO of Mission Therapeutics, said: “We are very pleased to have been recognized as the “One to Watch Private UK Life Science Company of the Year” Award, voted for by a highly experienced judging panel, as well as participants from the life science community. This has been a transformational year for Mission Therapeutics. Our recent fundraise supported by high profile investors is a strong endorsement of Mission’s unique discovery platform and will enable us to execute the company’s strategy by advancing our pipeline programmes through early clinical development.”

Held in London at the historical Gibson Hall, the inaugural Biotech & Money 2016 Awards Dinner was attended by over 250 C-Suite executives, investors, key stakeholders and KOLs in the sector.

For more information:

CONTACT:

Mission Therapeutics Ltd

Anker Lundemose

Chief Executive Officer

Tel +44 1223 497199

Hume Brophy

Mary Clark, Eva Haas, Hollie Vile

Email: missiontherapeutics@humebrophy.com

Tel: +44 20 7862 6390

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Mission Therapeutics

Mission Therapeutics was founded in 2011 to commercialise expert research into the ubiquitin pathway for the treatment of cancers and non-malignant disease. It has built a world-leading platform for the discovery and development of first-in-class, small molecule drugs that selectively target deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) – an emerging, and hitherto intractable, drug class that is attracting significant commercial interest as the potential ‘Next Kinase Area’.

DUBs are involved in multiple cellular processes, including DNA damage response and cell proliferation, and the inhibition of these enzymes has considerable potential for the generation of novel drugs for treating cancer and other unmet medical needs, including neurodegenerative disease, muscle wasting and infectious disease. Despite significant efforts within the pharmaceutical sector, there is a lack of DUB inhibitors in clinical development.

Mission’s leadership team has a wealth of international, commercial and scientific experience and the company has strong links with key academic and research centers including Cancer Research UK laboratories and the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge. Professor Steve Jackson at Cancer Research UK laboratories and the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge is the scientific founder of Mission and is the Chief Scientific Officer of the Company.

Mission Therapeutics has to date received £87 million in venture capital from a blue chip syndicate comprising institutional and corporate investors and was awarded a £1.9 million grant from Innovate UK in September 2015. In February 2016, the Company raised £60 million in a Series C financing led by Imperial Innovations and new investor Woodford Patient Capital Trust. It included follow-on investment from existing shareholders Sofinnova Partners, SR One, Roche Venture Fund and Pfizer Venture Investments. Mission is based at the Babraham Research Campus, south of Cambridge.