Imperial Innovations leads £15m funding round for allergy vaccine developer

Circassia has just completed a phase II clinical study in which its ToleroMune T-cell vaccine for cat allergy significantly reduced allergy symptom levels.  

Having successfully identified the optimal dosing regimens, the cat allergy T-cell vaccine will now be progressed into late-stage development with funds from today’s investment. The money will also support phase II studies on other allergens, including ragweed, house dust mite and grass.

Following today’s round, Imperial Innovations will own 15.3 per cent of Circassia, having invested a total of £7.5m (€8.3m) in this and previous rounds.

Susan Searle, Imperial Innovations chief executive, said, “This funding is clear demonstration of our strategy to focus on companies that address the great global challenges: energy use, healthcare and communications.  We are resourcing a number of companies, where the combination of management, technology and market opportunity, matched with both ours and third party funding, ensure the optimum chance of success."

Founded in 1986 and admitted to the AIM exchange in 2006, Imperial Innovations is responsible for the building and realisation of the value of intellectual assets emanating from Imperial College London.

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