Our NAV Growth Framework aims to provide shareholders with more clarity on the milestones and stages of the development cycle where we anticipate our companies will be able to access capital and drive significant NAV growth in the current market environment.
“We remain focused on driving NAV growth for shareholders whilst delivering transformational impact for patients.”
Creating and building companies from leading science
Forcefield has developed a strategy focused on harnessing the potential of its first-in-class cardioprotective proteins to retain heart function following heart attacks, an area devoid of any significant advancements in the past two decades. Forcefield was founded by Syncona and Professor Mauro Giacca, a leading authority in cardiovascular disease, who is the Head of the School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences at King’s College London.
Harnessing the potential of IL-2 therapies
Anaveon is developing a selective IL-2 receptor agonist, a protein that could therapeutically enhance a patient’s immune system to respond to tumours. In humans, IL-2 causes an immune cell, called a T-cell, to multiply and become activated. Under certain situations, T-cells can be activated to attack tumours and, as a result, IL-2 is an already approved therapy for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and renal cancer.
Anaveon’s next generation compound, ANV600, is designed to overcome known challenges with IL-2 therapies. These include severe, dose-limiting side effects and a short half-life that requires frequent infusions. ANV600 could potentially have a wide therapeutic use in oncology, including in combination with cell therapies, vaccines, checkpoint inhibitors and radiotherapy.
Combining two leading
gene therapy companies
During FY2023/4, Syncona was able to take advantage of market conditions impacting the biotech sector and wholly acquire Freeline, an adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy company previously listed on NASDAQ. During FY2024/5, Freeline completed the acquisition of Syncona portfolio company SwanBio, creating a new Syncona portfolio company Spur. This creates a consolidated AAV gene therapy pipeline, with the company focused on driving forward its two potentially first-in-class gene therapy assets in Gaucher disease and adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) towards late-stage development, supported by an increased capability in central nervous system (CNS) disorders, which supports its pre-clinical Parkinson’s programme.
Maturing data supporting potential of clinical programmes
During FY2023/4 Beacon published positive 12-month data from its Phase II SKYLINE trial of AGTC-501 in X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa (XLRP), with the data demonstrating a favourable efficacy and safety profile with improvements in visual function amongst treated patients. The positive data supported further investigation of AGTC-501 in XLRP, with the subsequent initiation of the Phase II DAWN trial, and the announcement of the initiation of the registrational Phase II/III VISTA trial in FY2024/5.
