21/08/2017 - Oxford Genetics, a leader in innovative synthetic biology-based technologies for biologics discovery, development and delivery, announces today that it has raised £7.5 million in an investment round led by Mercia Technologies PLC, an existing investor, and Invesco Perpetual.This latest round of financing builds on an exceptional year for Oxford Genetics which saw a rapidly growing number of clients, key appointments, and market momentum in the white-hot areas of cell and gene therapy. It has signed a number of licenses for its technologies, including two collaborative partnerships with gene therapy therapeutics companies for the co-development of technologies supporting the biotherapeutic industry. It also filed five new patents in the fields of improving the discovery, development or delivery of biotherapeutics.This investment will be used to further expand its operations with the opening of a new office in Boston, US, and extension of its UK facility at the Oxford Science Park by 6000 sq. ft. in November 2017. This facility will include state-of-the-art cell line engineering capabilities, viral vector production and purification suites, high-throughput robotic screening systems and process development facilities.The company also plans to invest in research and development to increase its IP portfolio and to scale its business model of technology enabled licensing. Oxford Genetics offering is exceptionally well-timed with the rapidly increasing demand for solutions that improve the discovery and development of biotherapeutics. The industry is increasingly looking to technology providers, as experts in the field, to support and scale their research efforts.Ryan Cawood, CEO of Oxford Genetics, said: “The next few years for Oxford Genetics are genuinely exciting, the industry for complex biologics has taken such a huge number of promising steps forward to delivering real patient benefit in recent years, and Oxford Genetics is pleased to be working with so many of the companies tackling some of Medicines most important unmet needs. With this latest investment Oxford Genetics will further strengthen its solid foundation of innovative technologies and operational excellence, and deliver on its mission to improve the overall efficiency of the biotherapeutic industry through the application of synthetic biology.”Matthew Mead, Chief Investment Officer at Mercia said: “The latest investment into Oxford Genetics of £7.5million reflects its rapid growth as the business continues to scale and expand into the US market. Having first invested in Oxford Genetics via our third party managed funds in 2013 and then transferring it to Mercia's direct investment portfolio of 'Emerging Stars' in December 2015, we have seen the business continue to accelerate its commercial progress, in what is proving to be a very attractive sector and growing market.”Source: https://www.oxfordgenetics.com/Articles/News/Oxford-Genetics-Secures-7-Million