Summer 2008 Established in 1970 by Trinity College Cambridge catalyst CAMBRIDGE SCIENCE PARK NEWSLETTER

In this issue: > Advancing the drug discovery process with Domainex > The future of gaming at Frontier Developments > Pioneering diagnostics from Cambridge Medical Innovations > A new chapter for Pharmorphix > Building a pipeline with Serentis > First tenants for 101 Cambridge > Viewpoint from David Cleevely Contents / New arrivals Contents

New arrivals page 2 Cambridge Medical Innovations page 3 Frontier Developments page 4 Domainex page 6 Pharmorphix page 8 Serentis page 10 Parklife page 12 101 Cambridge page 14 Parklife connections page 15 Viewpoint page 16

New arrivals

Susan Hamilton Group Susan Hamilton Group provides high quality recruitment solutions helping clients to meet both temporary and permanent requirements across a range of sectors including scientific, technical and commercial. With operations already in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Greater London, the opening of a new office at Cambridge Science Park allows the Susan Hamilton Group to bring its expertise and understanding of the recruitment market to the Eastern region.

www.susanhamilton.co.uk

AKN Labs AKN Labs is a software company which designs and develops advanced web applications and low-cost websites.

www.aknlabs.com

2 catalyst summer 2008 Cambridge Medical Innovations A sound approach to diagnosis Diagnostic giant sets up on Cambridge Science Park

With the establishment of Cambridge Medical electronic timing technology that’s already RAP*id 4™ instrument for use in the drug Innovations at the end of 2007, Cambridge in widespread use in items such as mobile discovery and life science markets. Science Park is now home to a part of one of the phones and computers, the technology has the world’s largest diagnostic companies – Inverness potential to offer real cost benefits.” “TTP LabTech has a solid track record in Medical Innovations. Catalyst spoke to Managing the development and support of novel Director Dr Matt Cooper to find out about the In line with its parent company, Cambridge instrumentation for this industry sector, so we new company and its ambitions. Medical Innovations is focused on diagnostic think it’s very well positioned to commercialise technology for consumer and professional our RAP*id 4 technology in this area,” Building on elements of the technology diagnostics, specifically products to be used comments Dr Cooper. developed by former Cambridge Science Park by consumers at home or by physicians at tenant Akubio, Cambridge Medical Innovations their offices rather than the larger platforms “Meanwhile at Cambridge and Inverness, is focused on advancing and exploiting its we continue to pursue our core mission required at major testing centres. acoustic detection systems to diagnose disease of launching diagnostic products and the and help people manage their health. management of human health. With the resources of a global player like Inverness “We use very high-frequency sound waves Medical Innovations behind us we’re confident between the megahertz and gigahertz that this is the start of a very productive range – that’s between a million cycles journey for our company. per second and a billion cycles per second,” explains Dr Cooper. “As our deal with TTP LabTech shows, we’re also interested in talking “We’re interested in to and building partnerships with building partnerships local biotech companies. It’s not with local biotech just about what our technology companies” might bring to them, but also how their technology might build “When we pass these sound on what we are doing. We think waves through a sample and look we’re in the right location to be at how it is altered, we’re able to making these kinds of connections directly monitor the presence or which ultimately can benefit absence and the amount of material everyone involved.” such as a protein, DNA, a virus or www.cam-medical.com bacteria in the sample.

Above and below: image illustrates a coloured “There are optical techniques that do the transmission electron micrograph (TEM) showing a cross-section of a herpes simplex virus (HSV) and same kind of thing in purified samples, but one an AKT-ivCovalent sensor chip that enables rapid of the great advantages of our technology is detection of bacterial and viral infections that it works in non-purified samples and can therefore save time and money. Currently, few In an important technologies offer users the ability to detect recent deal, in March real-time kinetic data of this quality across such 2008, UK-based TTP a broad range of samples, sample purity and LabTech (part of the sample concentrations. TTP Group plc) was granted a licence for “High-frequency acoustics is also a label-free the application of its technique – we don’t have to use a radioactive Resonant Acoustic label or a fluorescent label or a reporter Profiling™ technology assay on our samples – and because it uses incorporated in the

catalyst summer 2008 3 On the frontier Exciting games and serious business at Frontier Developmentst

Catalyst spoke to David Braben, co-inventor of “Setting up the company was more of a case very much think internationally and longer term the legendary 80s computer game Elite and of formalising an existing structure – I’d been – not just over the next six months but way founder of Frontier Developments, about the working for a long time with other people beyond that.” growth of the company and the challenges of beforehand such as Chris Sawyer,” David producing games for the 21st-century market. explains. With a host of popular games such as Roller Coaster Tycoon 3, Wallace and Gromit If you were one of the many users of the “We’ve been trying to develop and Thrillville to its credit, Frontier is one of hugely successful BBC Micro computer in the more enduring ways of telling the gaming industry’s leading independent 80s, chances are you may have also joined stories in our games” developers and has certainly adapted and the multitudinous ranks of Elite devotees – a evolved to meet the challenges of this game that broke new ground in sophistication “We were a very small operation when we fast-moving market over the last 14 years. through its exciting combination of interstellar started. In those days the number of people Nevertheless, David sounds a word of battles, galactic trading opportunities and the you’d need to make a game was way fewer caution for one of the UK’s most successful chance to develop your ship into an ever-more than today. With much less powerful machines, industry sectors. powerful vessel. obviously the expected complexity of a game wasn’t as high then. So it was quite practical in “Until last year, Britain was number three in Co-inventors Ian Bell and David Braben were those days for just one or two people to do a the world for producing games in terms of the brains behind this gaming phenomenon. game in a relatively short time. most measures, behind the US and Japan. That The latter went on to establish Frontier changed last year when Canada overtook Developments, a company which has grown “When I first started, games weren’t very Britain. I think there’s a really serious problem: from a handful of people working from a international – they would sell in one market the exodus of games development talent from farmhouse outside Cambridge to a team such as Britain or the US. Even computers that Britain is becoming a stampede, particularly, but of around 160 employees based at 306 people were using in different countries were not exclusively, to Canada. Cambridge Science Park. quite different – the BBC Micro never took off in America for example. But now we have to

4 catalyst summer 2008 Frontier Development

“Partly it’s because education standards in this talented programmers and software country have slipped dramatically over the last engineers, in addition to artists, animators few years, and so the people who’ve come and designers.” through the higher education system with the new regime are coming out of the other end With Managing Director David Walsh with nowhere near as good skills as they were focused on the business elements of three or four years ago. That is a problem. running the company, David Braben has remained free to concentrate on keeping “The second problem is in the cost of basing the creative work at a consistently a company here. In Canada, for example, they high standard. are actively enticing software companies to go and locate there where there is a salary subsidy “Both the problem and can go in very different directions from there, of 39% of the cost of the salary, plus there are advantage of an industry like and this is one of the unique things about tax holidays, plus they’ll find offices for you. So ours is that it changes very, the game. You can take the route of taking Canada is very attractive to our sector. There very quickly” revenge on the people who’ve set you up, or is also the strength of the pound against the “What we’ve been doing is trying to work you can try to prevent them achieving what dollar which is making us more expensive here, out more enduring ways of telling stories. The they’re trying to achieve – two diametrically compared to companies based in the US. trouble with a lot of games is that the story opposed paths.

“For us it hasn’t been completely negative as “This clearly means you have a lot of choices, we’ve benefited from recruiting people who so that’s a lot of development work for us. We don’t want to relocate when their company also employ script writers to make sure our may have moved. We’re in what’s basically dialogue is convincing and credible. It’s a very quite a high-risk business, but fortunately from exciting project to be working on.” the point of view of our track record, the risk has paid off really well. But long term it is a Alongside helping to recreate the intrigue that real concern that I hope the Government will could follow a presidential assassination, David address in some way.” and the team at Frontier are hard at work trying, quite literally, to stay ahead of the game. Frontier is certainly not standing still and is “Both the problem and the advantage of an actively recruiting at present to expand the industry like ours is that it changes very, very company’s growing portfolio of games on all quickly. If you don’t plan for it to change then major platforms. “We are on the advisory you’ll get left behind. The obvious current boards of a number of major universities, is strictly linear – it’s a case of getting past the trend is the move towards digital distribution, and recently held an open day (which was next bit of gameplay to unlock the next part of something we’re also involved in, with our oversubscribed by a factor of six!) to give the story,” explains David. recently announced ‘Lost Winds’ project on people a chance to come in and see what it’s Nintendo Wii, which changes the traditional like to work here,” says David. “We also don’t “It’s annoying, for me anyway, if you don’t publishing model very significantly. So we’ve just recruit from within the games industry agree with what the character is trying to do got to make sure that we’ve got the skills to – we’re always interested in meeting very in the game you’re playing. It’s great fun to deliver in both worlds. That change is starting think ‘what if I did this with him?’ – work with to happen now. the bad guy, for example. One of the things “There are fewer and fewer big games coming with game plots to date is that most of the out, but those games tend to be a lot more characters are astonishingly black and white successful. So we’re working hard at managing – in real life, so-called bad guys may have relationships with top publishers and also some quite complex motives, but it is a huge gaining the expertise as things gradually change challenge to realise this in a game. towards an electronic distribution approach, to make sure that we’re well set up for that – “We’re working on a game called The so that we’re not just optimising from where Outsider which is coming out in late 2009. In we’re at today, but also planning ahead for this, you are a CIA agent and you have been where things will be in three or four falsely accused of shooting down Air Force years’ time.” One. The intrigue and action that follows from that is what the game is based upon. The story www.frontier.co.uk

Above: imagery from Lost Winds and Thrillville Left: imagery from The Outsider catalyst summer 2008 5 Expanding the domain Domainex redraws its business model in drug discovery services

Domainex is helping the drug discovery industry compound collection design and selection, “We can then offer our solution to a client to overcome some of its major bottlenecks protein modelling and virtual screening. In for a licence fee – it makes for a much more through its innovative biology and chemistry the last few runs we’ve completed with effective business model. We’ll be able to offer services – and is in the process of developing its LeadBuilder, around 6% of the compounds our solutions on an exclusive or non-exclusive own pipeline of novel targets. Catalyst spoke to in the libraries we’ve selected have actually basis depending on the terms of the deal, and Chief Executive Officer Dr Eddy Littler about the worked – that’s an extremely high hit rate it means we’ll benefit from continuous revenue recently expanded company and its operations on in this field. In addition these hit compounds on work we’ve already completed. We’ve Cambridge Science Park. are small and drug-like, providing an excellent actually started this work already and hope starting point for a programme.” to have our first products coming to fruition Featured in Catalyst back in 2004, NCE within 12 to 18 months. Discovery was founded by Chris Sharman, “We think our package of Dave Madge and Dave Selwood as a spin-out services will help remove “The next stepping stone on from this will be from University College, London in 2001 to some of the key problems to take these targets and develop them to the provide tailored chemistry services to early and bottlenecks clients can next stage. So rather than simply saying ‘here’s stage drug-discovery companies. experience during the drug a reagent you can bring into your company discovery process” and use for drug discovery’, we’ll move on to Having moved onto Cambridge Science Park in apply the technologies that originated at NCE late 2003, NCE Discovery successfully carved Alongside its offering of chemistry and biology Discovery and find some chemical starting out its own niche in outsourced services for services to companies looking to advance points and good chemical leads. the biotech industry in the UK and beyond. their drug discovery programmes, the newly Meanwhile Domainex, another UCL spin-out integrated Domainex is also beginning to “That whole process will take a bit longer of founded in 2001 was developing its own value- develop its own library of targets course, but when it’s completed we’ll be able added services in gene cloning and expression which it hopes to market to the to offer a package that will consist of a well- and the provision of challenging proteins for pharmaceutical industry. known gene with some technical problems the drug discovery process. that we’ve solved, as well as some intellectual “We’ve recently raised some cash which will property around the crystal structure of that The acquisition of NCE Discovery by be used to grow the company and in essence protein and series of mid-chemical leads. Domainex in May 2007 brought together shift the business model which we’ve been these two complementary centres of expertise working with,” says Dr Littler. “Rather than “We think this is going to be a very attractive to create a provider of integrated services with just waiting for clients to come to us to solve package for potential clients because we’ll have a strong track record of success to draw on. their problem genes or the like, we’re looking removed some of the key problems to identify gene targets that are known to and bottlenecks that can occur during the drug “Both companies had developed some the industry as being both attractive and discovery process. For us, it means we can impressive technologies which were producing problematic and to work on these on our own. move up the value chain by using the exciting results for their clients,” explains Dr same technologies but in a much more Littler. “Domainex was using some cutting- effective way.” edge molecular biology and a patented technology called Combinatorial Domain Hunting to help companies refocus on targets that had somehow stalled and couldn’t be progressed despite their initial attractiveness. Using this technology, we’re able to analyse a problem gene and go back to our clients within three months with a number of clones that are highly expressed and enable them to get their programme back on track – it’s been very successful to date.

“The idea with the acquisition was to take this technology and combine it with the chemistry capabilities of NCE Discovery which apart from medicinal chemistry includes LeadBuilder, a lead generation platform which can offer Above and right: work at the Domainex laboratories 6 catalyst summer 2008 Domainex

Domainex redraws its business model in drug discovery services

Despite this ambitious new business model that “It’s also great to be part of a critical mass of “Because we generate cash for our services, our Domainex is developing, there are no plans to biotech companies clustered together here. company doesn’t have a very high burn rate and increase its activities still further along the drug We’ve had interactions with at least four financially we’re fairly well grounded. Because discovery pipeline. “The next possible step companies on the Park and it’s really attractive we can continue to work like this, it doesn’t could be to take a project into the clinic, but to have potential clients and collaborations right take a huge amount of investment to make we don’t have any intention of moving into that on your doorstep.” the transition from a fee-for-service model area,” explains Dr Littler. “We’ll be very happy to one where we’re offering end products to take our projects to the drug candidate stage, In spite of the impact that the downturn in as a packaged service for licence. It’s a strong more likely to mid to late lead optimisation, the global economy continues to exert on position to be in and we’re looking forward to and then seek to find a partner to take those the biotech sector among others, Dr Littler is completing the next phase in our development.” projects further on.” optimistic about the prospects for this newly merged company. www.domainex.ltd.uk Previously sub-leasing facilities within the Takeda building, Domainex moved into number 324 “It’s great to be part of a critical Cambridge Science Park in November 2007. mass of biotech companies “One of the great advantages of Cambridge clustered together here” Science Park is that it has a whole range of different offerings, so we were able to find “The fact that big pharma is downsizing so much exactly what we were looking for,” comments is both a challenge – because it does have a Dr Littler. negative, depressing effect on the biotech sector – but it also offers opportunities as they change “Once we’d identified that we were going to their models and look much more to in-licensing move out of the Takeda building, we wanted to to fill their pipelines. This is something that find somewhere that could house our high- they will have to do, and as such there will be density chemistry services and also that would opportunities for companies like Domainex and suit a company of our size. We didn’t want to many others on Cambridge Science Park to pay for a huge amount of office space, but we take advantage of. still wanted room to expand – this meets our requirements exactly.

catalyst summer 2008 7 A solid future Cambridge start-up Pharmorphix® has opened a new chapter as part of life sciences giant Sigma-Aldrich

A Cambridge start-up that became part of “Finding the best solid form for a particular SAFC PharmaTM’s menu of Pharmorphix® the Sigma-Aldrich® Group late in 2006 now drug is an essential part of the drug discovery services includes the use of a wide range operates within the company’s SAFC PharmaTM process,” he explains. “You may have an active of analytical techniques to find solutions to custom drug development and manufacturing compound which you know is effective, but you solid-form issues, including X-ray powder services business sector and continues to are very limited in turning it into a product until diffraction, single crystal diffraction, NMR, thrive in the competitive world of outsourced you’ve found the optimum solid form. thermal techniques such as DSC and TGA, pharmaceutical services. SAFC PharmaTM’s and spectroscopy techniques such as infra-red Pharmorphix® brand solid-state chemistry “That’s where our services come in – we and Raman. However, the collection of this services are now being offered to global provide polymorphism screening, salt selection accurate data is only the starting point for customers to enhance the value of the materials screening, co-crystal screening and physico- what the company can achieve for its clients. manufactured at its API production facilities in chemical property determination so that our the US and Europe. Catalyst spoke to Chief clients can find the best solution to getting “I believe one of the main reasons for the Scientific Officer, Professor Chris Frampton about their drug into a solid form.” company’s success is that we’ve always the journey so far. provided our clients with real insight into “We always strive to provide what the data means, and offered them clear “When we first arrived at this site in 2004 we the extra value we would recommendations as to the best way to take had some office space upstairs and our lab want to receive if we their drug forward as a result,” says downstairs,” says Professor Frampton looking were clients” Professor Frampton. around 250 Cambridge Science Park. “Now we’ve gone right the way round the building, The selection of a suitable polymorph of the API – “We’ve always seen this element as crucial and there is only a single unit left that we that is, one of the crystal lattices which are formed to our work – our key strength is not just don’t occupy!” as molecules of the drug substance crystallise – is in generating data but also in analysing it to crucial to the way in which a drug functions in provide practical solutions. This can add value It’s a clear physical indication of the success the solid form. Different polymorphic forms of at all stages in the drug development process, the company has achieved in five short years the same drug can have widely varying properties from medicinal chemistry and discovery, providing solid-form research services to such as solubility, stability, hygroscopicity, melting through to pre-clinical. We also do a lot pharmaceutical companies which help get their point, compressibility and flow properties which in of work on products after they have been drugs to market quicker, more efficiently and turn can affect the efficacy, safety and suitability of launched, when companies want to ‘evergreen’ more cost-effectively. a drug for production. their product by extending its patent life

8 catalyst summer 2008 Pharmorphix

Left and above: work at the Pharmorphix® laboratories on Cambridge Science Park

through the use of an innovative solid form “In the beginning we grew very rapidly – might have done otherwise. If they encounter that demonstrates enhanced utility in a however, you quickly reach a stage where you solid-form issues, we can come in and begin particular area. have to decide where you want to go next. looking at the problems right away. After a few years, there were a number of ideas “The acquisition has enabled us and areas that we really wanted to develop. “Another benefit for us has been the ability to to put lots of plans into action draw on the really strong business development that we might otherwise not “We believed that the acquisition by Sigma- network of SAFC PharmaTM. Originally the bulk have been able to” Aldrich and our inclusion in its SAFC PharmaTM of our clients were based in Europe and the suite of technologies offered us the best route US, but since the acquisition we’ve been able “The founding team of Pharmorphix® had to achieving these goals, and I’m pleased to say to move into exciting new markets such as many years of experience in big pharmaceutical that we still believe it was the right decision for Singapore, Japan, Australia and Israel – it’s really companies, so we all knew what kind of solid- us. We’ve continued to grow and are a great opened up a new window for us. form services such organisations really needed, team, now numbering 35 people since the and we always strive to provide the extra value acquisition; we’ve invested in new state-of-the- “The acquisition has been very, very positive that we would want to receive if we were the art equipment; we’ve expanded into new fields; and everyone in the company has recognised clients. We’re very passionate about the area in and we now have an X-ray facility at one of the this. We have a great relationship with Sigma- which we work and I think that translates into SAFC PharmaTM US sites in Madison, Wisconsin, Aldrich and of course it’s a secure future for us, the quality of our work – and the amount of which means that our clients don’t have to enabling us to put a lot of plans into action that repeat business we achieve.” incur the expense of sending materials overseas we might otherwise not have been able to.” for analysis, although, in these cases, we still Originally privately funded, Pharmorphix® was evaluate and provide recommendations on data acquired on 9 August 2006 by Sigma-Aldrich from the Cambridge location. www.safcpharma.com Corporation, with the intent to add the specific technical services that could grow and support “Because SAFC® is an outsourced drug the development and API manufacturing manufacturer, we’ve been able to help them SAFC® , Pharmorphix® and Sigma-Arldrich® are registered trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Biotechnology L.P. and services already offered within SAFC PharmaTM. with some of the problems they can encounter Sigma-Aldrich Co. The acquisition was a natural progression in the during the manufacturing process. So for us it’s SAFC Pharma™ is a trademark of Sigma-Aldrich Biotechnology evolution of this ambitious young company, as a fantastic relationship because we start seeing L.P. and Sigma-Aldrich Co. Professor Frampton explains. our clients’ materials much earlier than we

catalyst summer 2008 9 Building the pipeline Multiple product development at Serentis

Serentis is a new kind of biotech company expertise and create a unique start-up that “It’s great science and exactly the type of focused on product development across a could focus across a range of different fields. thing we wanted to take – some good ideas number of fields. Catalyst spoke to co-founder that didn’t have sufficient backing, so we were and Chief Executive Officer Tim Sharpington to “Our core expertise is in product able to put them into our pipeline and we get the story so far. development,” explains Tim. “Our initial focus can apply our development skills and also has been in dermatology after we identified our financing to them. We’ll be pushing this “The key to this company is creating a viable and acquired a company called Surface through with the intention of starting clinical product pipeline,” explains Tim. “When we Therapeutics, which was a spin-out from trials later this year and establishing if this is a set up Serentis, we saw that there were a lot Oxford University. The company was looking viable commercial product.” of other early-stage companies out there with at some of the common genetic links between good ideas but that didn’t have either the children who develop eczema and asthma. infrastructure or the finance in place to push Serentis also has another product in them through later stage clinical development. development which is focused on treating So our idea was to identify some of these “Our model is to establish the itch associated with eczema and other exciting ideas and to put them into our own a clinical-stage pipeline of dermatological conditions. “Itching from pipeline – products that individually might not products very early in the eczema really can exacerbate the condition sustain a whole company but as a portfolio company’s evolution” – if patients scratch their skin they can create could create a really valuable set of assets. more tissue damage and thereby cause more “The company did some great early-stage inflammation and more discomfort. So we’re “What we were looking at was very much a research in identifying some targets and the working on a cream formulation that can be product-based biopharmaceutical company. molecules to hit them, but didn’t have the applied before going to bed at night and will Our model is to establish a clinical-stage momentum to take it through to the next prevent itching during the night, hopefully pipeline of products very early in the stage of development. Now we’ve acquired providing a great deal of comfort to sufferers company’s evolution. We wanted to do that the company, the whole team has relocated from this condition. This product is also going by two means – one is our internal innovation, to Cambridge and we’re looking to move into clinical trials later this year.” taking existing drugs and reprofiling them forward quickly with what is an exciting for new uses, and the second is to acquire new mechanism of action for the treatment Alongside these two key products for eczema, products already at the clinical stage of Serentis is also developing its portfolio in development. It’s an approach that means of eczema. different areas, as Tim goes on to explain. we can get into the clinic pretty quickly and “Our other lead clinical interest is in wound hopefully see a return on our investments “At the moment most eczema patients are care. We’re working on a novel approach to within a relatively short amount of time.” treated by steroids, but this is not always produce a product that would both promote ideal, especially for children, who make up wound healing, making wounds heal faster, but Tim Sharpington set up the company in late a lot of those suffering from eczema. We’re also be analgesic and combat wound pain. 2006 along with R&D Director Andy Baxter (a developing a new method of non-steroidal medicinal chemist) and Chief Scientific Officer topical treatment which we hope will provide “It’s potentially got a lot of applications for Alan Russell (a pharmacologist). The three had a very safe and effective alternative. It interacts use in acute and surgical wounds, biopsies, worked together at Arakis, a Cambridgeshire- with both the internal inflammatory drivers skin grafts and burns. In time we think it could based pharmaceutical company focused on and also the atopic external drivers. This dual inflammatory diseases, oncology adjunctive also be used for the more challenging chronic mechanism offers the potential to control the therapy and pain. After Arakis was acquired by wounds, things like pressure ulcers and venous number of eczema flares as well as treat the the Japanese company Sosei in 2005, the three leg ulcers, which can be very painful and acute condition. colleagues saw an opportunity to pool their difficult to heal.

10 catalyst summer 2008 Serentis

Above: The management team at Serentis

“We’re quite excited because our first trial is “The largest group is our development group. With £10 million of financing behind Serentis, just about to start and this product has such a There are three or four other opportunities the company is on the way to realising its variety of potential uses – it might be used in a that we are evaluating at the moment – two ambitions. “We’ve got a range of products, dressing for surgical wounds, a spray for burns, external which we may buy in, and a couple some that may be taken on by a larger or perhaps a gel or a cream for the more of internal ones which are just about ready company in time and others which are more chronic wounds.” to be put into full development. Within the niche and that we could potentially take to It’s an ambitious pipeline for this young next couple of months we’re likely to have market ourselves. We’ve almost completed company which can nevertheless draw on five clinical development programmes, which is our first stage which is to create a pipeline of a wealth of experience to help turn these quite a lot for a small company. products. The next stage is to deliver on what promising leads into commercial successes. we’ve invested in and to push these products “We have a mixture of research, development “We’re also building up our commercial group through clinical trials – it’s going to be exciting and commercial expertise here,” Tim adds. because the positioning and commercial to see their progress.” evaluation of our products is very important “We’re very focused on ensuring to us. We’re very concerned that all our www.serentis-pharma.com that our products can find a development should be very commercially place in the market and will be required by patients and focused; we need to understand the markets doctors” we’re working in very well, really understanding what doctors and patients need.

“Our core competence is product “We’re looking first at proof of principle – development; we’ve got the ability to innovate establishing that our products have a clinically our own products but our research team is meaningful effect. But we’re also very focused small and mainly external. We don’t have any on ensuring that our products can find a labs here, so we design a lot of experiments, place in the market and will be required by both pharmacology and chemistry, but those patients and doctors. So we try to set pretty are performed externally. high hurdles for all of our products, and we understand that means that not all of them are going to make it, which is why we’re looking to have five or six programmes.” dn:Director software in use

catalyst summer 2008 11 PARKLIFE

Award-winning imagery created with ARTVPS technology Technology created by ARTVPS Ltd, Brian Tyler, CTO at ARTVPS, said: “Burrows developers of advanced visual rendering have been using ARTVPS technology for six systems and expertise, has been used to create years and were one of the pioneers in the a winning entry at the recent Escape Awards adoption of CGI in print. It is great to see that celebrating UK talent in computer graphics. they are still producing award-winning imagery with our technology.” At a ceremony held at the Tate Modern in March, the 3D team at client Burrows Nvisage were winners of the Design Visualisation – Still Image category with their render of the Land Rover LRX in Piccadilly Circus. www.artvps.com Above: the award-winning image created using ARTVPS technology

Astex scientists recognised by Royal Society of Chemistry Two scientists from Astex Therapeutics Ltd, was a co-recipient of the Malcolm Campbell the pioneering fragment-based drug discovery Memorial Prize 2007 for groundbreaking company, were honoured with prestigious work on the anaesthesia drug sugammadex, awards in April from the Royal Society of undertaken during his time at Organon Chemistry, Europe’s largest organisation for Research Scotland. advancing the chemical sciences. “I’m delighted to receive this award on behalf Founder and CEO Dr Harren Jhoti was named of the whole Astex team. This achievement as Chemistry World Entrepreneur of the Year confirms the talent and commitment of our 2007, an accolade which recognises his role staff and underlines our position as one of in starting and building Astex into one of the the true pioneers in the pharmaceutical and leading biotechnology companies in the sector. biotechnology industry,” stated Dr Jhoti. Dr David Rees, VP Medicinal Chemistry, www.astex-therapeutics.com Above: Dr Harren Jhoti, CEO Astex Therapeutics Ltd, and his award from the Royal Society of Chemistry

CSR ships one billionth Bluetooth chip CSR announced in April that it had shipped its Joep van Beurden, Chief Executive Officer of billionth Bluetooth chip, confirming its position CSR commented: “This is a huge milestone for as the leading global provider of personal us and not only highlights the volume that CSR wireless technology. is delivering but also confirms our position and dominance as the leading Bluetooth provider. CSR’s BlueCore silicon is used in mobile And this is only the beginning: Bluetooth phones from every leading mobile handset is at the heart of connectivity in mobile maker and in products from customers phones, one of the largest areas of growth for including Apple, Dell, NEC, Panasonic, Sony, semiconductors over the coming years. Our TomTom and Toshiba. leading position allows us to ship many more, highly differentiated connectivity products.” www.csr.com Above: CSR ships one billionth Bluetooth chip

12 catalyst summer 2008 PARKLIFE

Velocix announces the world’s first free online content delivery network Velocix, formerly known as CacheLogic, video progressive streaming and website has announced the availability of a free new acceleration services. digital content delivery service aimed at entrepreneurs and start-up ventures as well “Velocix Accelerator is already helping the as larger organisations looking to distribute brightest and most innovative get their online rich media such as video, music, games and rich media offerings off the ground,” said Phill software online. Robinson, CEO at Velocix. “With our help, these new ventures are able to offer high- The Velocix Accelerator provides 500GB performance rich media destinations to their free monthly digital delivery allowance (worth growing audiences around the world, for free.” $8,000 per year) for file download, www.velocix.com

Acquisition expands Lab21’s diagnostic capabilities Lab21, a leading provider of health and conditions; basic clinical chemistry; and salivary Below: diagnostic testing at Lab21 environmental diagnostics, has acquired hormone testing. NPTech Ltd, an independent clinical laboratory company providing diagnostic testing services Graham Mullis, CEO of Lab21, said: “This is an for the NHS and private healthcare providers excellent acquisition for Lab21. NPTech’s range in the UK and parts of Europe. of services complement those already offered by Lab21, and will significantly enhance the The acquisition of NPTech in March range of tests we can offer. I am also delighted 2008 significantly broadens Lab21’s range that NPTech is the first of what will be a of diagnostic tests. NPTech brings food number of acquisitions during 2008.” intolerance testing; chemical and mould sensitivity testing; blood tests for a range of www.lab21.com

Datanomic solution chosen for major healthcare record migration project

An application by data quality specialists “What has impressed us most about Datanomic Ltd has been chosen by BT Global dn:Director is its ease of use,” commented Services for use in a major healthcare patient Nick Pope, Data Migration Lead, BT Global record migration project. Services. “New users become effective within just a few days because the product is so BT Global Services is using the dn:Director visual and intuitive. But Datanomic has not data quality management application compromised on the functionality in order to developed by Datanomic to cleanse, de- deliver a great user experience.” duplicate, validate and structure patient data in a project dealing with hundreds of thousands of detailed records spanning over two decades. www.datanomic.com Above: user interface for Datanomic’s dn:Director

catalyst summer 200813 101 Cambridge First tenants for 101 Cambridge 101 Cambridge – the biggest speculative building project in the city for 15 years and the first speculatively built building on Cambridge Science Park for eight years – has secured its first tenants prior to completion and is set to open for business in July.

Royal Philips Electronic has taken 15,000 sq ft Philips Research was founded in 1914 and based on electronics and microfluidics on glass on a ten-year lease. The £17-million building is one of the world’s major private research and promise to be more compact and much has been developed by Hermes Real Estate organisations. The new laboratory on faster than traditional diagnostic techniques. and Exemplar Properties, with lettings managed Cambridge Science Park will support Philips’ by Bidwells, the largest independent property new sector organisation of Healthcare, Other project work includes developing ultra- consultant outside of London. Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting, building low-power-radio-solutions which, for example, relationships with both private and publicly could enable “Body Area Networks” in a Terry Doyle, Senior Vice President, Philips funded innovation activities in and around number of healthcare applications. Deploying Research, commented: “2008 marks an the city. these novel short-range wireless systems will exciting year for Philips Research UK. We revolutionise the future care environment in pride ourselves in being at the forefront of “We believe Cambridge hospitals and homes. innovation and research. Ensuring we maintain provides an ecosystem where this position drives our need to provide our our work can really flourish” Existing areas of highly regarded contribution talented scientists and technology experts with Terry Doyle, Senior Vice will continue to be promoted: the Cambridge the best possible environment. We believe President, Philips Research UK Laboratory will continue work in the Cambridge offers this – an ecosystem where standardisation of wireless communications our work can really flourish”. Active in the development of many exciting and will explore licensing and alternative new applications, Philips Research scientists collaborations that build on its electronics Alex Turner, Investment Manager at Hermes have expertise in many domains. Current systems expertise, as well as building on Real Estate, said: “We are delighted that project work includes developing easy-to-use, its proprietary “EPLaR” flexible Philips Research has chosen 101 Cambridge rapid diagnostic tests. The devices will be electronics technology. for such a major relocation. The selection of suitable for use at ‘points of care’ such as local www.research.philips.com this building speaks volumes for the quality medical practices, and could mean that the of our development and the strength of waiting time between diagnosis and treatment Cambridge as a location for hi-tech businesses. is cut from days to minutes. This pre-completion letting to Philips Research UK brings an important new R&D name to The tests the city.” involve the identification of specific Cambridge is recognised as one of the top biomarkers global innovation centres and is the R&D of disease hub for several multinational technology in patient companies. The Cambridge Science Park samples location will enhance Philips’ portfolio of such as research centres which span the globe blood, urine employing approximately 1,800 people at or saliva. seven sites including the Netherlands, China, These new India and the United States. detection systems are

Background: the lobby of the new 101 Cambridge Above: computer-generated image of the new 101 Cambridge 14 catalyst summer 2008 PARKLIFE connections

Biology in Business (BiB) is a Cambridge-based non-profit Cambridge AWiSE (Association for Women in Science and organisation with more than 1,700 members that bridges academic Engineering) and commercial life science to promote career development AWiSE is a multidisciplinary membership organisation composed and technology transfer through events, online resources and of individuals, businesses, associations, institutions and other networking opportunities. organisations, all of whom share the common goal of advancing the interests of women in science, engineering and technology. Email: [email protected] The Cambridge branch holds regular meetings and events; for Web: www.biologyinbusiness.org details see the website or get in touch. Email: [email protected] Web: www.camawise.org.uk The Eastern Region Biotechnology Initiative (ERBI) ERBI’s objective is to facilitate and accelerate the growth of The Cambridge Network is a membership organisation with biotech in Cambridge and the East of England. Its core activities the mission to link like-minded people from business, finance and include: hosting networking events, special interest groups, training, academia to each other and to global partners for the benefit partnering and member promotion, publications, regional and of the Cambridge region. It helps Cambridge raise its game by national initiatives. delivering over 40 networking, partnering and special interest group Email: [email protected]. events per year (mostly in Cambridge, but also in London, Boston Web: www.erbi.co.uk and Shanghai) and a high-profile website where its 1,300 corporate members publish profiles, news, jobs and events every day. Web: www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk Research Services Division (RSD) helps to identify, secure and Tel: 01223 422362 manage research funding for the University from regional, national and international sponsors. It encourages collaboration between the Enterprise Link, a Business Link service for Cambridgeshire, is University and industry, and fosters long-term research partnerships a membership network providing advice and support for early- between companies and academics for mutual benefit. RSD also stage, entrepreneurial/aspirational businesses. It holds a variety of organises Horizon, the leading seminar series, which provides networking events and seminars at the St John’s Innovation Centre participants with a first look at new developments in the most in Cambridge, and also sends out regular bulletins to members exciting areas of science and technology at Cambridge University. with information, advice and opportunities. It can also arrange Contact: Jo Ryan access to sector specialists. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.rsd.cam.ac.uk Web: www.enterprise-link.co.uk

The Great Eastern Investment Forum (GEIF) is a i10 provides large and small businesses with easy access to the leading UK business angel network located in Cambridge which expertise, resources and innovation within universities and higher exists to introduce ambitious, innovative companies seeking funding education institutions in the East of England. to business angels and other early-stage funders seeking quality investment opportunities. Contact: Catherine Atkins Email: [email protected] Web: www.geif.co.uk Tel: 07738 455166

The Cambridge Science Park is managed by Bidwells on behalf of Trinity College.

Management: Agency letting: Catalyst is a forum for companies Jeremy Tuck MRICS Lucy Farrant on the Cambridge Science Park. Email: [email protected] Email: Tel: +44 (0) 1223 559333 [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1223 841841 The next issue will be published PR & marketing: in Winter 2008. If you have any Julie Bushell Email: [email protected] comments or suggestions for Tel: +44 (0) 1223 559331 stories to be included in the next Joanne Uttley issue, please get in touch with Email: [email protected] Julie Bushell or Joanne Uttley (see right). Tel: +44 (0) 1223 559393

catalyst summer 200815 Viewpoint David Cleevely

these days and pushing their ideas forward efficiently the resources you need if it’s going than they used to be. And there’s also a lot to be successful, or have the insight to reject

David Cleevely more money available for funding start-ups. it if it’s not. Cambridge Angels is putting £2–3 million a year into start-ups and that’s just one source So do I worry about Cambridge continuing to – the companies we’re investing in probably be a thriving place to do business? Absolutely double that from other funders. not. But I do worry about whether we are creating the social environment and David Cleevely, founder and former Chairman of telecoms consultancy Analysys (acquired by I think that one of the key reasons why we’re infrastructure that can support the increased Datatec International in 2004), is a co-founder in a healthy place right now and why I think number of inhabitants that a growing and Chairman of Abcam, a prime mover behind we’ll continue to be so is that we’ve built up economy demands. Cambridge Network and a co-founder of a really strong network of expertise across a Cambridge Wireless David also holds a number range of areas. “Effective networking is really of other positions on company boards. He is a important to our ongoing member of the Ofcom Spectrum Advisory Board, It wasn’t always that way. In the 1990s, success – it enables you to put the Expert Panel for the Department of Media, Cambridge started to expand and one of the together quickly and efficiently Culture and Sport. the resources you need to be things that became obvious was that there successful” were lots and lots of different people in Cambridge who didn’t really talk to Despite the recent concerns of a global We are building more houses in the area, but each other. economic downturn, I think the “Cambridge people don’t just live in houses, they live in Phenomenon” is in a pretty healthy state communities. If you build structures that don’t right now. It was the driving reason behind setting up encourage those communities to form, that the Cambridge Network, which was founded don’t encourage people to live properly as “At the moment you can find by myself, Herman Hauser, Alec Broers, Fred human beings, then I think you’re asking for more good quality ideas here Halsworth from Andersons, Anthony Ross disaster. You’ve only got to look at how the in Cambridge than ever before” from 3i and Nigel Brown from NW Brown. bold experiments of the 1960s turned into sink estates and real trouble later on. You can find statistics that are coming out at the Really it was the first large-scale initiative I’m concerned about the way in which plans moment that suggest a plateau or a slowdown aimed at bringing people together so they get approved and moved forward without in funding for start-up companies, but it doesn’t could help new ideas get off the ground getting the input from local communities square with what I’m actually seeing. and share some of the expertise that was which they really ought to have. We have lots so obviously here in the city. If you look at of regulations and processes associated with At the moment you can find more good quality Cambridge now in terms of that ecosystem, planning acceptances and rejections, but we ideas than ever, more people interested in it’s actually working very well. There’s enough don’t have reliable ways in which proposals starting up companies and more companies money flowing in and critically there are can be changed as a result of the involvement actually getting off the ground and doing it in a enough individuals who are interested in of the local community. Business-wise, I think way that’s better and more professional than investing and giving their time, who themselves we’re moving forward to an exciting future, I’ve ever seen at any point in Cambridge. are really well networked. but we need to make sure we’re really creating the infrastructure – both physical and social – that can support it. It helps that there’s a lot more expertise That networking is really really important – I around to help start-ups, and some of these can’t overemphasise it. What it enables you new companies are much better at presenting to do is to put together very quickly and