The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGT Catapult) announced on July 22, 2025, its first investment under the Cross-Catapult Investment Pilot, backing Spliceor's trans-splicing gene therapy platform for liver cancer treatment. The Cambridge University spinout secured funding to advance pre-clinical development of its innovative gene repair technology, initially targeting hepatocellular carcinoma.
Addressing Critical Unmet Need in Liver Cancer
Spliceor's gene therapy platform focuses on hepatocellular carcinoma, a cancer with stark survival statistics. The disease has a five-year survival rate of just 13.4% and affects around 6,500 new patients each year in the UK. The company's trans-splicing approach aims to deliver highly targeted treatment directly to tumor cells, with potential applications extending to other indications.
"Spliceor exemplifies the kind of cutting-edge company we aim to support through this initiative - strong science, clear therapeutic application, and the potential to bring real benefits to patients," said Matthew Durdy, Chief Executive of the CGT Catapult. "By enabling early investment in such technologies, we're helping to build momentum across the UK advanced therapies landscape."
Platform Technology and Development Plans
The investment will enable Spliceor to expand its team and progress validation of its platform technology, which enables precise gene repair. The company's approach represents a novel method for delivering gene therapy with enhanced specificity to cancer cells.
Dr. Tim Landy, CEO of Spliceor, emphasized the significance of the funding: "This investment is a significant milestone for Spliceor. It will accelerate our progress toward clinical trials and help us take the next steps in developing precise, transformative gene therapies for patients who currently have very limited options."
Cross-Catapult Investment Pilot Initiative
The investment marks the inaugural award under the Cross-Catapult Investment Pilot, a new initiative supported by Innovate UK that allows organizations within the Catapult Network to make seed investments in innovative companies. The pilot program works with industry to ensure the development of novel therapies and strengthen the pipeline of advanced therapies in the UK.
Investment decisions are guided by a multidisciplinary committee of advanced therapy and venture capital experts, established by CGT Catapult to identify and assess high-potential opportunities in the sector. An investment committee will assess potential future investments in advanced therapies developed in the UK.
Strategic Context and Future Outlook
The investment aligns with broader UK government initiatives in life sciences. CGT Catapult recently responded to the UK government's Life Sciences Sector Plan, published on July 16, 2025, which aligns the government's industrial strategy with its health mission.
"Advanced therapies can be life-changing for patients, providing relief from diseases where there may not be effective alternative treatment options, and they have potential to be a crucial part of the Government's ambition to make life sciences a cornerstone of economic renewal and a healthier UK," Durdy stated.
The funding represents a strategic investment in the UK's advanced therapies ecosystem, supporting the transition of promising technologies from academic research to clinical development and eventual commercialization.
