Laverock Therapeutics has successfully expanded its seed funding round to more than £20 million, with the latest extension of approximately £6.5 million led by Calculus Capital. The London-based gene control company announced the milestone alongside positive functional data from its cancer cell therapy programs, marking a significant transition toward lead product selection.
The funding round included participation from existing investors Eli Lilly and Company, Mercia Ventures, Eos Advisory and Maven Capital Partners, while welcoming new investor Norcliffe Capital. This represents the company's second investment round following its initial seed funding in 2023.
Platform Validation Demonstrates Enhanced Tumor Control
Laverock reported achieving key milestones with positive functional data for both its primary T-cell program LKV201 and macrophage-based program LKV301. The data demonstrated enhanced tumor control in both hematological and solid tumor cancer models, validating the company's unique programmable gene control platform.
The company's technology harnesses natural cellular regulatory mechanisms to deliver programmable and tunable gene control through recoded miRNAs. This approach enables the development of advanced therapies with enhanced precision and improved safety profiles by linking gene silencing to specific cell identities and states.
David Venables, CEO of Laverock, emphasized the significance of the recent progress: "The Laverock team has been busy over recent months, continuing to validate our technology platforms but also generating functional data for our therapeutic programmes. This new funding will enable us to continue this development, as well as forming partnerships and collaborations to integrate our technologies into partners' therapeutic pipelines."
Technology Platform Enables Multiplex Gene Silencing
Laverock's platform technology begins by selecting non-coding miRNAs with desired expression patterns, then modifying them using gene editing to identify highly selective mRNA expression blockers. This process results in programmable control over gene expression, providing what the company describes as a multiplex gene silencing approach.
The platform's programmable, tunable capabilities potentially transform the efficacy, precision and safety of advanced therapies by enabling disease-responsive therapeutic development. This technology positions Laverock to develop next-generation advanced therapies targeting both oncology and genetic medicine applications.
Strategic Focus on Partnerships and Product Development
Elizabeth Klein, Investment Director at Calculus, expressed confidence in the company's trajectory: "We are delighted to continue our support for Laverock's progress in pioneering a new era of programmable advanced therapies. This new data and expanded funding demonstrate the potential of Laverock's technologies."
The additional funding will support optimization of Laverock's preclinical programs while enabling the formation of partnerships and collaborations to integrate the company's platform and expertise into partners' therapeutic pipelines. To reflect this strategic focus, Laverock has launched an updated website to demonstrate platform expansion and facilitate enhanced partnering and outlicensing activities.
The company's investor base includes high-caliber backers spanning biotechnology, pharmaceutical and venture capital sectors, including UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund and Tekfen Ventures alongside the recent participants. This diverse investor support underscores the potential of Laverock's programmable gene control approach in advancing the field of precision cell therapy.
