Resolution Therapeutics Secures £63.5M Series B Funding and Appoints Chair

Resolution Therapeutics Limited, a biopharmaceutical company based in Edinburgh and London, has successfully raised £63.5 million in Series B financing. The investment round was led by Syncona Ltd. This funding will be instrumental in advancing Resolution's primary asset, RTX001, an engineered macrophage therapy, into the Phase I/II EMERALD clinical trial. The financing will also bolster the company's manufacturing capabilities and extend its pipeline into other inflammatory and fibrotic disease areas beyond liver disease.

Paul Sekhri, a seasoned life sciences executive with extensive experience in drug development and business operations, has been appointed as the new Chair of the Board of Directors. Prior to this role, Sekhri has held senior positions at several prominent pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including Sanofi, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, TPG Biotech, and Novartis AG. He is currently President and CEO of vTv Therapeutics, Inc.

Resolution’s CEO, Amir Hefni, expressed gratitude for Syncona's ongoing support as the company prepares to bring RTX001 into clinical trials. He also welcomed Paul Sekhri to the Board, highlighting his vast experience in developing innovative treatments for autoimmune diseases. Hefni acknowledged the significant contributions of outgoing Chair Lisa Bright, whose leadership over the past four years has been crucial in driving Resolution to its current clinical stage.

RTX001 is a unique, engineered macrophage cell therapy designed to exhibit regenerative properties, specifically targeting end-stage liver disease. The Phase I/II EMERALD study is set to begin patient recruitment in the UK and Spain in the fourth quarter of 2024. This study aims to evaluate the therapy’s effectiveness in treating patients who typically have limited therapeutic options and often face severe health outcomes, including liver transplants or fatal disease progression.

Edward Hodgkin, Managing Partner at Syncona Investment Management and Non-Executive Director of Resolution, praised the encouraging data the company has generated so far. He emphasized the potential of RTX001 as a pioneering treatment for end-stage liver disease and reiterated Syncona's commitment to supporting Resolution through its Series B financing. Hodgkin also expressed confidence in Paul Sekhri's ability to guide the company’s executive team through its development stages.

Paul Sekhri expressed his excitement about joining Resolution at a pivotal time as it gears up to initiate clinical trials for RTX001. He looks forward to contributing to the company’s efforts to expand its therapeutic pipeline into new areas with significant unmet medical needs.

RTX001 has been engineered to enhance the natural regenerative properties of macrophages, aiming to deliver superior efficacy and durability in treating liver disease. The ongoing OPAL study is designed to collect novel data on the disease trajectory of liver cirrhosis patients, which will serve as a control for the forthcoming EMERALD study. The EMERALD study itself has received clinical trial authorization from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Resolution Therapeutics is dedicated to exploring the regenerative potential of macrophage therapy for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. Founded as a spinout from Professor Stuart Forbes's lab at the University of Edinburgh, the company employs a proprietary cell characterization and engineering platform to develop autologous macrophages with unique regenerative properties. The company's initial focus is on RTX001 for end-stage liver disease, but it also plans to explore other indications where engineered macrophages could offer therapeutic benefits.

Syncona, the lead investor in Resolution’s Series B financing, aims to create and scale life science companies that can deliver transformative treatments to patients. Their strategy involves building a diversified portfolio of globally leading life science businesses and partnering closely with academic founders and experienced management teams to make a significant impact on patient care.