ViaNautis sets up at Cadence building on Unity Campus

Nanomedicine company ViaNautis has signed a 10-year lease for 10,825 sq ft of first floor laboratory, write-up and office space within the Cadence building – the third and final new laboratory-enabled building recently completed on campus.

Formerly known as SomaServe, ViaNautis was founded in 2018 as a spin-off from University College London and is at the forefront of advancing revolutionary therapies for Central Nervous System (CNS) rare diseases and cystic fibrosis.

Using its state-of-the-art polyNaut platform, its technology is being developed to precisely guide genetic materials across hard-to-penetrate biological barriers to their intended target.

Following a recent $25million Series A funding round, ViaNautis is collaborating with leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies to unlock the potential of promising genetic molecules as well as new therapeutic platforms.

Nicholas Bewes, CEO, Howard Group, which operates Unity Campus, said: “We warmly welcome ViaNautis to Unity Campus. The company’s commitment to advancing the field of gene therapy for the development of treatments for people with cystic fibrosis and CNS is admirable and we wish them every success in their pioneering work.”

Katherine Friend, director – investment and asset management, Howard Group, added: "The ViaNautis team will be joining an existing line up of exciting biomedical companies at Unity Campus, including Domainex, PhoreMost, Maxion Therapeutics, IONTAS, Sareum, Aqdot, Chimeris and Liminal BioSciences.

“I have no doubt that they will thrive in this dynamic environment and become an integral part of the entrepreneurial and collaborative Campus community."

Dr Fran Crawford, CEO, ViaNautis, said: "Moving to this state-of-the-art laboratory and associated offices is representative of ViaNautis’ growth trajectory.

“We are delighted to be expanding into these new premises which we hope will provide an inspiring workplace for our existing and future talent."