Bath-based biotech spinout EnsiliTech has raised £1.2m in pre-seed funding.
The award-winning biopharmaceuticals company makes transportation of vaccines more efficient and cost-effective.
The firm’s patented platform technology – ensilication – can be applied to both existing and new biopharmaceuticals to make them safe and stable at room temperatures.
The funding will be used to aid the development of a pioneering refrigeration-free approach to transporting vaccines and other materials.
Ensilication preserves the integrity of vaccines and other biological materials at temperatures that range from -20C to +80C. Currently, most vaccines need to be stored at sub-zero temperatures.
EnsiliTech’s technology has the potential to greatly improve the distribution of vaccines and other biological materials in developing countries, where access to reliable refrigeration can be a major barrier to healthcare.
It could also have a significant impact on the global effort to combat the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, by enabling the rapid and safe distribution of the vaccines.
The fundraise was led by Science Angel Syndicate and Fink Family Office, with support from QantX, Elbow Beach Capital, angel investors and Innovate UK.
Co-founder and CEO of EnsiliTech, Dr. Asel Sartbaeva, said: “Our goal is to make the transportation of vaccines and other life-saving biological materials more efficient and cost-effective, while also reducing the carbon footprint of this critical supply chain. We are thrilled to have the support of our investors as we work towards this mission.”