Public Funding for Keltic Pharma Limited

Keltic Pharma is a University of Glasgow spin-out, founded by three renowned experts in their field: Professor Graeme Milligan, Professor Andrew Tobin and Professor Andrew Jamieson. The Founders have decades of research experience in a class of cell surface receptor called G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). This class of receptor is the world's most successful drug target. However, despite this success the full potential of GPCRs as a drug target has yet to be fully released. A subclass of GPCRs have been classified as 'hard-to-target' due to the ligand binding pocket being shallow and poorly defined. Keltic's novel drug discovery platform called PEP-SMOL is specifically designed to generate small drug-like molecule hits against shallow binding pockets. The platform will be used to drug previously hard-to-target GPCRs with a primary focus on the free fatty acid receptor (FFA4). The PEP-SMOL Discovery Platform is a multi-stage process designed to produce a new class of molecules that bind to GPCRs called "synthetic biologics". These molecules occupy a "goldilocks" zone in drug discovery, though adopting the advantageous properties of small molecules and also biologics such as antibodies. Keltic aims to develop synthetic biologic drugs that will be administered as inhaled agents to normalise lung function and reduce inflammation in severe asthma, addressing an urgent need for more effective treatment options in a substantial patient population. Innovate UK funding will allow Keltic to grow their team in Glasgow (supporting social inclusion through the government's Levelling Up agenda), validate their innovative drug discovery platform against FFA4 and test their break-through approach to finding a treatment for severe asthma. By deploying PEP-SMOL, Keltic will pursue drug discovery programs against high value GPCR targets that previously have been considered either 'hard-to-target' or even 'un-druggable', leading to better treatments for the global population which benefits the UK economy.