Liverpool Company Develops Innovative Screening Techniques

23rd June 2009

A Liverpool-based biotechnology company has developed a range of unique diagnostic solutions for the transplantation and haematology markets.

Biofortuna Limited, based at Merseybio, has pioneered innovative procedures and methods applicable to antibody screening and DNA typing.

The techniques, which will primarily be used for testing patients and donors prior to organ and bone marrow transplant, are designed to minimise the risk of rejection and have significant advantages over existing procedures.

Biofortuna’s team has over 40 years experience in the field of molecular diagnostics. Its team consists of CEO Dr Mike Bunce, together with directors Ben Passey and David Charvill all of whom previously worked for global biotechnology company, Dynal.

The company was set up in 2008 with the backing of Alliance Fund Managers (AFM) through the Liverpool Seed Fund. AFM injected £450k into Biofortuna in two rounds of funding to complete the Proof of Concept and Commercialisation phases. Biofortuna has now received a further £95k Grant for Research and Development award from the NWDA to further enable development of a ground-breaking new method for DNA typing.

CEO Mike Bunce said: “There are a variety of methods already on the market for carrying out transplant genotyping or antibody screening, but existing methods are either difficult to perform in large quantities, time consuming, expensive or require specialist interpretation.”

“We are confident that the products we are developing will provide results that are more accurate, quicker and cheaper than anything else on the market and will be of benefit to those trying to match transplant donors and recipients.”

“The support from AFM and the NWDA has been crucial in enabling us to develop our techniques and ultimately bring these products to market. In addition to funding, AFM also introduced the highly experienced Mark Hurley as a non-executive director and he has been a great asset to the Biofortuna team.”

AFM portfolio manager Lorna Green commented: “This is a highly technical and specialised product sector. We believe the Biofortuna team has the necessary experience and know how to solve a number of end-user and clinical problems in a well established and growing market. This company is another great example of Merseyside’s thriving biomedical sector.”

Geoff Wainwright, managing director of 2bio, Merseybio’s management company, added: “I am delighted that Biofortuna, an exciting young biotechnology company based in the Incubator, has successfully attracted further investment. Biofortuna is a great example of the innovative new businesses housed within MerseyBIO, with which it is our pleasure to work. 2Bio would like to wish the Biofortuna team the very best of luck with this exciting new phase of their venture".

Biofortuna has a number of potential users and distributors lined up for when its products become available in October of this year.

Ends

For further information please contact Angela white at Alliance Fund Managers on 0151 242 6376.

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Photo shows L-R Lorna Green (AFM) Geoff Wainwright (2bio) with David Charvill, Ben Passey and Mike Bunce (Biofortuna)

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