Keltic Pharma secures funding to tackle asthma

University of Glasgow spin-out Keltic Pharma Therapeutics has been awarded prestigious SMART Grant funding to develop work tackling diseases such as asthma. 

The Innovate UK funding of £350,000 will support the development of Keltic Pharma’s innovative drug discovery platform, PEPSMOL©, which aims to revolutionise the targeting of previously hard-to-drug G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) with a focus on the FFA4 receptor - a target for asthma and other inflammatory airway diseases. 

The funding will see the company take on three new members of staff to add to the current complement of 10 employees based within the Advanced Research Centre at the University’s Western Campus in the West End of the city - which lies within Glasgow Riverside Innovation District.

Keltic Pharma is a spin-out from the laboratories of Professor Andrew Tobin, Professor Andrew Jameson, and Professor Graeme Milligan at the University. 

Significant

The SMART Grant from Innovate UK, the UK’s national innovation agency, is a significant endorsement of Keltic Pharma’s ground-breaking approach to drug discovery.

• Based within ARC on the University's Western Campus

The PEPSMOL© platform has been specifically designed to overcome limitations of conventional small molecule platforms and unlocks the therapeutic potential of hard-to-target proteins with shallow, poorly defined binding sites for the first time.  

Andrew Tobin, Chief Executive of Keltic Pharma Therapeutics, said: “We are thrilled to receive the Innovate UK SMART Grant, which will enable us to expand our team in Glasgow, validate the PEPSMOL© platform against the FFA4 receptor, and explore new approaches to treating severe asthma.  

“Our goal is to develop inhaled synthetic biologic drugs that can normalise lung function and reduce inflammation in severe asthma patients, offering a novel and much-needed treatment option in respiratory medicine.” 

The support from Innovate UK will allow Keltic Pharma Therapeutics to push the boundaries of GPCR drug discovery, potentially leading to life-changing treatments and contributing to the UK's economic growth through innovation in the biotech sector. 

We are thrilled to receive the Innovate UK SMART Grant, which will enable us to expand our team in Glasgow, validate the PEPSMOL© platform against the FFA4 receptor, and explore new approaches to treating severe asthma. 

Andrew Tobin

The PEPSMOL© platform is a multi-stage process designed to blend the advantageous properties of small molecules and biologics, such as antibodies. This innovative approach enables the effective targeting of complex GPCRs and opens new possibilities for creating more effective treatments for unmet clinical needs, according to the company.

Melville Anderson, Head of IP & Commercialisation at the University of Glasgow, said: “Securing this highly competitive Innovate UK grant is a fantastic achievement by the Keltic Pharma team and demonstrates the significant commercial potential of the PEPSMOL© platform. We look forward to their continued success in the development and deployment of PEPSMOL©.” 
 
The University of Glasgow is a world top 100 university and a member of the UK's Russell Group with over £200m in annual research income that supports leading edge studies in the fields of medicine, life sciences, physical sciences, social sciences and the arts.   

The University, which is the anchor institution within GRID, is currently investing to convert its research-led innovations into economic and social impact through licensing, consultancy, collaboration and new venture creation.