Vital Transfusion Research Attracts Huge Investment
Case Study: Haemostatix Ltd
A £3.1 million investment in drug design and development company Haemostatix Ltd in early 2006 has highlighted the huge potential of this small but world-leading company.
A University of Leicester spinout company, it is developing a unique, life-saving product for cancer or surgical patients with blood-clotting problems. Haemoplax™ is designed as a cost-effective, safe alternative to platelet transfusion.
Haemostatix is a company of just four people: Chief Executive Officer Sarah Middleton and co-founder Prof Alison Goodall, who are specialists in biopharmaceutical product development and platelet research, and two research scientists. It has been based in the University of Leicester’s Clinical Science Wing at Glenfield Hospital since its launch in Spring 2003. “Having access to a fully equipped laboratory in the early stages has been very useful,” said Sarah.
“Support like this from the University, together with initial support from EMIN in our search for investment, has been
invaluable in helping us get off the ground.”
The latest investment led by Quester, a leading UK venture capital company, also includes funding from the Catapult Venture Managers (on behalf of the East Midlands Regional Venture Capital Fund) and the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA).
