- Oversubscribed financing led by Cambridge Innovation Capital and SV Health Investors’ Dementia Discovery Fund with M Ventures and Pfizer Ventures joining
- Investment will support further development of CNS penetrant therapeutics based on the Company’s TRIMTACTM aggregate-selective degraders
Cambridge, UK, 05 March 2025: TRIMTECH Therapeutics, a biotech company harnessing targeted protein degradation (TPD) for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, today announced the closing of its $31 million (£25 million) seed funding round. The financing was led by Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC) and SV Health Investors’ Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF), with M Ventures and Pfizer Ventures joining. Additional investors also include Eli Lilly and Company, MP Healthcare Venture Management (MPH), Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, and Start Codon.
The investment will support further development of the Company’s growing pipeline of potent, CNS (central nervous system) penetrant therapeutics based on its aggregate-selective degrader molecules known as TRIMTACs. The pipeline is focused around the development of treatments for severe neurodegenerative and inflammatory disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease.
TRIMTECH is leveraging the innate properties of the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM21 to selectively and potently degrade protein aggregates associated with a range of diseases which are not well served by current TPD approaches. This novel approach harnesses TRIM21’s unique properties in the form of the Company’s TRIMTAC degrader molecules to develop medicines that address the needs of large patient populations with limited treatment options.
The Company was founded by CIC and DDF in conjunction with their joint entrepreneur-in-residence, Damian Crowther, and academic co-founders Leo James (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology) and Will McEwan (UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge).
TRIMTECH has also appointed the following leading life science executives to the Board of Directors: Michael Anstey, Partner at Cambridge Innovation Capital); Laurence Barker, Partner at SV Health Investors (SV); Hakan Goker, Managing Director at M Ventures, Jeffrey Moore, President at MP Healthcare Venture Management; Marie-Claire Peakman, Partner at Pfizer Ventures.
Nicola Thompson, CEO, TRIMTECH Therapeutics, said: “This oversubscribed financing round and the outstanding quality of our investor syndicate is a great endorsement of TRIMTECH’s unique approach to targeting the selective removal of aggregated proteins that underpin so many CNS diseases, and recognizes our impressive scientific foundations and world class team. We extend our thanks to all of our supporters and look forward to working with the new Board members, as we now push forward with progressing the pipeline.”
Laurence Barker, Partner, SV Health Investors’ Dementia Discovery Fund, said: “The team at DDF is thrilled to co-lead the creation of TRIMTECH to advance its TRIMTAC platform, which harnesses TRIM21’s unique ability to degrade aggregated proteins while preserving functional monomers. While targeted protein degradation has revolutionized drug discovery, effective clearance of protein aggregates remains a major challenge. TRIMTECH’s differentiated approach directly addresses this gap, opening new possibilities for treating neurodegenerative conditions and beyond.”
Michael Anstey, Partner, Cambridge Innovation Capital, said: “CIC is proud to have been part of the creation of TRIMTECH and co-led this financing round. With over 55 million people affected by Alzheimer’s and millions more battling other neurodegenerative disorders, this groundbreaking innovation has the potential to transform the course of treatment for these patients.”
About TRIMTECH Therapeutics Ltd.
Cambridge-based TRIMTECH Therapeutic’s mission is to create novel small molecule degraders of protein aggregates that will combat neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, a leading cause of death globally. The Company’s proprietary degrader technology is focused on delivering potent CNS-penetrant small molecule heterobifunctional degraders and glues, which can rapidly remove disease-causing protein aggregates. Potent and selective removal of these toxic aggregates leaves the functional form of the target protein intact and able to support healthy cellular function. TRIMTECH’s approach is based on more than 15 years of pioneering work by Dr. Leo James and Dr William McEwan, elucidating the function and mechanism of action of the novel E3-ligase, TRIM21.
For more information, visit: www.trimtechtherapeutics.com
About Cambridge Innovation Capital
Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC) is a leading venture investor backing and building category-leading deep tech and life sciences companies. CIC currently manages in excess of £600 million, has invested in over 40 companies, and has a privileged relationship with the University of Cambridge, Europe’s top source of founders for venture-backed start-ups.
Cambridge Innovation Capital Manager Limited (FRN:918898) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
For more information, please visit www.cic.vc or follow on X at @CIC_vc and LinkedIn.
About SV Health Investors’ Dementia Discovery Fund
SV Health Investors’ Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF) is the world’s largest family of specialized venture capital funds that invests exclusively in companies developing or enabling novel therapeutics for dementia. Dementias including Alzheimer’s Disease are arguably the largest unmet medical need with over 55m patients worldwide. With more than $500m raised for this strategy, and offices in London and Boston, DDF capitalizes on global investment opportunities to fulfill its dual mandate of delivering measurable impact and generating significant financial returns. Utilizing its network of venture partners, entrepreneurs, leading scientists, and strategic partners, DDF invests in and creates new biotech companies and provides thought leadership in the field. DDF is enabled by its limited partners including major pharmaceutical companies (Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Co., GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Otsuka (Astex), Pfizer and Takeda), along with AARP, Aegon, Bill Gates, British Patient Capital, NFL Players Association, Quest Diagnostics, UnitedHealth Group, and the non-profits Alzheimer’s Research UK and LifeArc.
Learn more at www.ddf.vc
About M Ventures
M Ventures is the strategic, corporate venture capital arm of Merck. From its headquarters in the Netherlands and offices in Germany, USA and Israel, M Ventures invests globally in transformational ideas driven by innovative entrepreneurs. Taking an active role in its portfolio companies, M Ventures teams up with management teams and co-investors to translate scientific discoveries into commercial success. M Ventures focuses on identifying and financing novel solutions to some of the most difficult challenges, through company creation and equity investments in fields that will impact the vitality and sustainability of Merck’s current and future businesses.
For more information, visit: www.m-ventures.com
About Pfizer Ventures
Pfizer Ventures (PV), the venture capital arm of Pfizer Inc., was founded in 2004 and invests for return in areas of current or future strategic interest to Pfizer. PV seeks to remain at the forefront of life science advances, looking to identify and invest in emerging companies that are developing transformative medicines and technologies that have the potential to enhance Pfizer’s pipeline and shape the future of our industry.
For more information, visit: www.pfizerventures.com
About MP Healthcare Venture Management
MP Healthcare Venture Management (MPH) is the VC firm of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation. MPH is Boston-based, and invests globally in early stage biotech companies developing innovative therapeutics and platform technologies.
For more information, visit: www.mp-healthcare.com
About Cambridge Enterprise
Cambridge Enterprise is the innovation arm of the University of Cambridge. Through Cambridge Enterprise, University of Cambridge research and expertise continues to deliver life-changing outcomes with world-changing impact. We provide the diverse support needed by researchers, innovators and talented teams tackling the challenges facing the world today. We connect, empower and enable the transformation of Cambridge research into purposeful social and economic global impacts.
Part of Cambridge Enterprise, Cambridge Enterprise Ventures is the investment arm of the University of Cambridge. We support a diverse range of entrepreneurs and founders by investing University of Cambridge capital into high potential, high impact early-stage businesses. As venture investors, we help founders by building high value-add syndicated rounds, providing board experience and leveraging long standing connections to the Cambridge ecosystem and beyond.
For more information, visit: www.enterprise.cam.ac.uk/venture-building-investment/cambridge-enterprise-ventures/
