Expanding PsiOxus moves into new facilities

PsiOxus Therapeutics is moving into new premises at Milton Park in Oxfordshire, UK to accommodate recent expansion.

The firm has added new office and laboratory space for the research and development of novel viral therapeutics.

PsiOxus says the move will allow it to more than double its laboratory workforce. The firm aims to have around 25 staff in place later this year.

PsiOxus was formed in 2010 and in February 2011 initiated a mid-stage clinical study for MT-102, a small molecule therapeutic for the treatment of cancer cachexia and age-related wasting. In September of the same year, the Wellcome Trust awarded the firm a £1.8m Translation Award to develop a novel oncolytic cancer virus, ColoAd1.

Earlier this year, PsiOxus and its partner Ark Therapeutics announced the manufacture of the ColoAd1 product, which will enter clinical trials in cancer patients later this year.

The firm has also appointed of Dr Paolo Paoletti, president of GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) Global Oncology Business, as a non-executive board director and added Dr Terry Hermiston, vice president of Biologics Research at Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, to its Scientific Advisory Board.

In addition, the company has continued to make key appointments to strengthen its management team. Dr Jeetendra Bhatia was appointed as vp of Pharmaceutical Development, joining from Emergent Biosolutions, and Dr Tamara Nicolson was recently appointed as Head of Research, joining from Calimmune.

PsiOxus’ chief executive Dr John Beadle said the new facilities would be key to the firm’s continued growth and success.

‘We have made excellent progress so far, with products in the clinic, an excellent team, and strong partnerships,’ he said.

‘Milton Park offers us an excellent opportunity to support our growth with an exceptional facility. This prestigious location is already home to many bio-science innovators and MEPC has fitted out our new lab to our own exacting standards.’