Member Article

Fusion IP adds new company to portfolio

AIM-listed Fusion IP, the Sheffield-based university commercialisation company which turns university research into business, has announced the addition of new company to its portfolio.

The company is PH Therapeutics, which is founded on the research of Dr Allan Lawrie from the Department of Cardiovascular Science at the University of Sheffield.

Its aim is to develop biologic treatments for the rare disease Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), which is caused by the thickening of the walls in arteries that take blood from the heart to the lungs, making it harder for blood to flow through them resulting in high blood pressure.

The increase in pressure puts a strain on the heart that can lead to difficulty in breathing and heart failure. Current therapies only attempt to alleviate the symptoms of this disease through relaxing the vessels.

PH Therapeutics is developing therapies that specifically target molecules thought to be responsible for cell wall thickening. This may lead to control, and importantly reversal of the disease.

PAH affects around two in 10,000 people in the European Union and is classed as an orphan disease.

In accordance with its exclusive agreement with the University of Sheffield, Fusion will start with a 60% shareholding in PH Therapeutics Ltd.

Peter Grant, operations director of Fusion IP, commented: “PH Therapeutics is another life-sciences spin-out derived from the world-class research at the University of Sheffield and we look forward to working with Allan and the team, as they develop this ground-breaking IP.

“This is another example of commercialisation of IP for an orphan or rare disease with the potential of bringing real benefits to patients.”

Dr Allan Lawrie, commented: “Although several treatments exist for treating the symptoms of PAH, these have not been shown to be as effective as hoped for patients suffering from this life-threatening disease.

“I am delighted that through PH Therapeutics, working in conjunction with the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Pulmonary Vascular Disease Unit, we will begin the journey of developing new and better treatments for patients.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Lane .