Keltic Pharma Therapeutics: Innovating Treatments for Malaria
Keltic Pharma Therapeutics is a pioneering spin-out from the University of Glasgow, founded by Dr. Prof Andrew Tobin, Prof Graeme Milligan and Prof Andrew Jamieson (link). The company leverages world-class expertise to develop innovative treatments for malaria, asthma, and neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on ‘undruggable’ targets.
The Vision
The foundation of Keltic Pharma Therapeutics lies in groundbreaking research conducted in Prof. Tobin's lab. The team discovered that inhibiting PfCLK3, an essential protein in the malaria parasite, could kill the parasite at multiple life stages, preventing transmission and offering potential for both prevention and treatment of malaria.
Project Milestones
- Formation of Keltic Pharma following fundamental research in Prof. Tobin’s group.
- Successful collaboration with GSK and other partners, leading to significant interest and additional funding.
- Growth to a team of 8 skilled biologists and chemists, based at the University’s Advanced Research Centre (ARC).
- Generation of significant intellectual property, including patents and trade secrets for drug discovery platforms.
Support from the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences (MVLS)
The College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences (MVLS) has been instrumental in supporting the Keltic Pharma Therapeutics project. MVLS provided translational funding and guidance through the Translational Research Initiative (TRI).
The TRI awarded early-stage translational funding from the Medical Research Council’s Confidence in Concept (MRC CiC) grant, now known as Impact Accelerator Accounts (IAA), which was crucial in enabling the team to conduct the underpinning research that led to the company's formation. This support, along with over £9.5 million in follow-on research funding and over £0.5 million in-kind contributions from collaborators, has been instrumental in Keltic Pharma's growth.
Impacts and Achievements
Malaria Treatments
Development of PfCLK3 inhibitors with funding from the EU Malaria Fund (€5M) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation ($4.3M).
Collaboration
Collaboration with GSK and other partners to screen ~30K compounds, identifying promising inhibitors.
Asthma and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Expansion of the therapeutic portfolio to include innovative treatments for asthma and neurodegenerative conditions.
Drug Discovery Platforms
Utilisation of the PEP-SMOL platform to identify drug-like molecules for hard-to-target G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs).
Future Prospects
Keltic Pharma Therapeutics exemplifies how groundbreaking academic research, combined with dedicated translational support, can lead to significant success in fundraising, collaborations, and scientific discovery. The company's journey highlights the potential for academics to successfully translate their research, leading to spin-outs, and making substantial impact on global health.
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