UCL spin-out Achilles Therapeutics to develop immunotherapies for cancer

A new spin-out company Achilles Therapeutics has been launched to develop immunotherapies for cancer, based on the work of scientists from UCL and its associated hospitals. The new company will bring together world-class research from UCL and the Francis Crick Institute, funded by Cancer Research UK and the National Institute for Health Research. Achilles Therapeutics will design therapies to target truncal tumour neo-antigens - unique flags to the immune system present on the surface of every cancer cell, which were first discovered by Cancer Research UK and scientists at the Francis Crick Institute and UCL Cancer Institute. Truncal tumour neo-antigens are present on all cancer cells in an individual patient's tumour but not on healthy cells, so could allow scientists to target and destroy tumours without harming healthy tissues. Syncona, an investment company and subsidiary of the Wellcome Trust, and Cancer Research Technology, with the support of UCL Business and the Crick, formed Achilles Therapeutics with a successful financing round of £13.2 million led by Syncona with the CRT Pioneer Fund and the UCL Technology Fund. The company founders bring together world-class capability from three prestigious institutions. They are: 1.