Atelerix, a Newcastle University spinout that is transforming the way that biosamples essential for drug discovery and pharmaceutical research are stored and transported, has raised £750k, with participation from ACF Investors and biotech specialist investors o2h Ventures, bringing the year’s total funding to £1.25m. The investment will be used to drive the company's branding and sales efforts and drive widespread adoption of its technology, positioning Atelerix's range of hydrogels as the preferred shipping method for biosamples.
Preserving the integrity of biological samples like cells, tissues, viruses, and blood products during transport between multiple sites is a challenge in healthcare. Reliable drug discovery, accurate diagnoses and efficient clinical trials depend on reliable sample preservation. However, the widely used traditional cryopreservation method can reduce cell viability by up to 50% post-thaw while also requiring costly and specialised equipment. Moreover, complex cell-based models, tissues and blood-products cannot be frozen at all resulting in a tight, inflexible, high-wastage supply chain for fresh products.
Atelerix’s innovative hypothermic preservation technology can minimise the complexities and disadvantages of cryogenic shipping whilst extending the shelf life of fresh products. The patented hydrogel encapsulation technology allows for the storage and transport of cells between 4-25 degrees, addressing these challenges head-on. The solution enables cells to maintain over 90% viability for 14 days at room temperature, reducing costs by 50-80% per shipment. It also uses standard packaging compared to the specialised cryogenic shipping containers and hazardous dry ice. By simplifying logistics, reducing costs and maintaining cell viability, Atelerix’s ambient temperature shipping technology offers a solution to bottleneck issues in drug and cell therapy development, ensuring scientists can focus on advancing ground-breaking therapies and improving patient outcomes.
The solution also offers a sustainable alternative that addresses the environmental concerns associated with cell preservation. Traditional methods use vast amounts of energy, with a single unit using the equivalent daily energy consumption of an average UK household. Atelerix’s technology eliminates the need for energy-intensive freezers, dry ice and harmful refrigerants, reducing CO2 emissions by 99.7% in a single shipment.
Atelerix has a patent portfolio covering key applications across multiple markets and has been initially validated through partnerships with leading life science companies. It is poised for full-scale commercialisation and will use the funding, completed over two rounds, to convert the product's early adopters into customers and develop its technology.
