Member Article

Drug development firm tackling respiratory illnesses closes £25m Series B

A London-based drug business that is developing treatments for life threatening respiratory infections has closed a closed a £25m Series B to support the early clinical development of its new generation of inhaled medicines.

Pulmocide Ltd, which is based in South Kensington, has attracted funding from Touchstone Innovations, alongside new investors SR One and Longwood Fund, with further contribution from existing investors SV Life Sciences, F-Prime Capital and Johnson & Johnson Innovation.

Headed up by a senior team of doctors who have held positions at companies including GSK, Roche Molecular Systems and GlaxoWellcome, the drug development company is currently working on medicines targeted at treating respiratory infections brought on by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Aspergillus.

The funding marks another high profile investment for Touchstone, which also contributed to Cell Medica’s £60m Series A funding round last week.

Maina Bhaman, Director of Healthcare Ventures at the investment firm, commented: “We continue to support this strong entrepreneurial management team to progress the Company’s two novel compounds through early clinical development; another step closer to a treatment for patients with life-threatening lung infections.

“Pulmocide is yet another example of a portfolio company that has been able to attract a powerful group of investors and we would like to welcome SR One and Longwood to the syndicate.”