Biogelx Limited

Company description

BiogelX has developed a synthetic cell culture that mimics the behaviour of tissues found in the body.

Biogelx is a biomaterials company, created in 2012 to commercialise advances in patented, bio-inspired tuneable peptide gels, developed by the internationally recognised Ulijn Group at the University of Strathclyde. The group develops a variety of peptide-based systems operating in the rapidly emerging field of 'bio-inspired, molecular self-assembly'. Biogelx brings to the market new tools to cell biologists, who need to replicate the behaviour of mammalian cells in the artificial environment of the laboratory. The company develops and supplies highly tuneable, cell-matched peptide hydrogels, capable of revolutionising the way cell biologists control and manipulate cell behaviour in laboratory-based cell culture applications. The company started by offering consumable research tools to cell biologists based on patent covering a new type of peptide based gel ('Hydrogel composisitions'). Over the last 3 years, company has grown significantly.

Project impact

In producing simple mimics of complex biological materials, Professor Rein Ulijn of the University of Strathclyde has developed an international reputation as a leading academic researcher in this field. In 2010 he joined forces with Dr. David Lightbody, an experienced start-up/technology commercialisation chemist, and together they sought to bring a new suite of materials, namely peptide hydrogels, to the cell culture research market. Much of the research through to 2012, had been funded by research councils (ERC, Leverhulme Trust, EPSRC grant ). Having identified a clear market opportunity, Rein and David sourced a candidate to undertake the RSE Enterprise fellowship, which would see a full time Strathclyde PhD graduate work with Rein and David to identify key commercial relationships and develop the Biogelx business plan. In late 2012, the Biogelx business secured equity investment from Gabriel Investments Ltd (£ 20k), Scottish Investment Bank (£ 20k) and the University of Strathclyde (£ 20k) and secured a license arrangement with the University of Strathclyde for the exclusive use of its peptide gel technology. This allowed Biogelx to secure commercial premises at BioCity Scotland and recruit four full time employees. Since trading started in early 2013, Biogelx has successfully developed revolutionary, patented cell-matched hydrogel products that are already generating steady sales income from customers in the UK, mainland Europe, South Korea and the United States. The unique cell-matching capabilities of the company's products clearly provide academic users, medical researchers and major pharmaceutical companies with a serious alternative to competing complex, animal- derived 3D cell culture products. In-house R & D has already generated one new patent application, with a second to follow in early 2016. In June 2015, the Company secured series A investment of £630,000. These funds are being used to grow the operational base of the business and increase the company's profile/customer base internationally. The business now has 10 employees at its base at BioCity Scotland and has recently appointed its first employee at its US subsidiary, Biogelx, Inc., which is located at Harlem Biospace, a New York City life science incubator. To date, Biogelx has successful generated sales of £180k in 2013, £210k in 2014, and approx. £240k in 2015 and has a commercial product range, that is sold to around 40 customers spread across EU, USA, Asia and South America. These include major pharmaceutical companies such as GSK and Novartis, together with some of the UK's leading Universities (UCL, Manchester, Liverpool, Keele). In September 2015, the Company secured and exclusive licence deal for new tripeptide materials, which are biodegradable and biocompatible. This technology dramatically expands the application are of the gels from research tools to regenerative medicine. The company continues to hire ambitious chemistry graduates, many of whom are from Strathclyde, and also offer training support to students, having hosted 4 undergraduates to date, to complete their industrial placement year with the company.