On July 22, 2025, the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGT Catapult) announced that it has made its first investment as part of the Cross-Catapult Investment Pilot in a trans-splicing gene therapy platform for liver cancer created by Spliceor, an early-stage R&D company that was spun out of the Department of Medicine at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (1). The investment pilot is supported by Innovate, UK and allows organizations involved in the Catapult Network to make seed investments in innovative companies. The pilot works with industry to ensure the development of novel therapies.
Key Takeaways
- The Cross-Catapult Investment Pilot in a trans-splicing gene therapy platform for liver cancer created by Spliceor.
- An investment committee will assess potential future investments in advanced therapies developed in the UK.
- CGT Catapult issues statement about the UK government’s Life Sciences Sector Plan.
A trans-splicing gene therapy for liver cancer treatment
The pilot program’s investment in Spliceor will support the development and validation of the company’s trans-splicing gene therapy platform for cancer and other treatments.
“Spliceor is an innovative advanced therapies company with the potential to develop a life-changing gene therapy to benefit patients,” Matthew Durdy, chief executive of the CGT Catapult, said in a press release (1). “By working with Innovate UK to invest in promising companies, like Spliceor, that have strong technologies and clear applications, we hope to accelerate their growth, boost the advanced therapies ecosystem in the UK, and ultimately lead to more therapies entering clinical trials and commercial use.”
“We are grateful to receive this significant investment, which recognizes Spliceor’s potential to transform lives through innovative gene therapies,” Tim Landy, CEO, Spliceor, added. “This funding will accelerate our research and development, enabling us to build on our goal of delivering more specific and effective gene therapies, advancing our assets toward clinical trials and ultimately delivering life-changing treatments to patients.”
An investment committee will assess potential future investments in advanced therapies developed in the UK.
CGT Catapult’s response to the UK’s Life Sciences Sector Plan
CGT Catapult is an independent organization working for the advancement of cell and gene therapies. On July 16, 2025, CGT Catapult responded to the UK government’s Life Sciences Sector Plan (2), which was published on July 16, 2025, and aligns the government’s industrial strategy with its health mission. The strategy was created in coordination with industry organizations, life sciences businesses, and patient groups and focuses on enabling R&D, promoting investment in life sciences, and reforming the National Health Service.
“Encouraging investment in the sector through the British Business Bank will support start-ups and early-stage companies access the finance they need to continue their journey to commercialization,” Durdy said in a press release (3). “The Government aims for more scale-up finance being raised by life sciences businesses in the UK than anywhere else in Europe by 2030. This access to finance is vital to ensure that there is a flow of new medicines and ideas coming through from our research base into development and ultimately reaching the patients who need them.”
“Advanced therapies can be life-changing for patients, providing relief from diseases where there may not be effective alternative treatment options, and they have potential to be a crucial part of the Government's ambition to make life sciences a cornerstone of economic renewal and a healthier UK,” Durdy continued in the statement. “We look forward to continuing our work with Government, industry, and the healthcare sector, and contributing to the success of the UK life sciences ecosystem.”
References
- CGT Catapult. Spliceor Receives Investment from the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult as Part of the Cross-Catapult Investment Pilot. Press Release. July 22, 2025. https://ct.catapult.org.uk/news/spliceor-receives-investment-from-the-cell-and-gene-therapy-catapult-as-part-of-the-cross-catapult-investment-pilot
- UK Government. Life Sciences Sector Plan. Policy Paper. www.gov.uk. July 16, 2025. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/life-sciences-sector-plan
- CGT Catapult. CGT Catapult response to publication of the Life Sciences Sector Plan. Press Release. July 16, 2025.