The latest Business updates from the science industry


by Gwyneth Astles


£500,000 grant to support precision antibiotics for cystic fibrosis


Glox Therapeutics has been awarded up to £500,000 from the £3 million Collaborative Discovery


Programme (CDP), funded


by LifeArc through the Cystic Fibrosis Antimicrobial Resistance (CF AMR) Syndicate. The grant will support the


Dr James Clark, CEO and Co-founder, Glox Therapeutics.


development of precision antibiotics to combat antimicrobial-resistant lung infections in cystic fi brosis (CF) patients.


CF, affecting over 162,000 people worldwide, leads to chronic lung infections due to pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Over time, these infections can develop resistance to conventional antibiotics, creating a pressing need for effective new treatments.


Dr Paula Sommer, Head of Research and Partnerships, Cystic Fibrosis Trust.


Glox’s novel bacteriocin-based platform offers precision antibiotics that target resistant bacteria without harming the human microbiome, providing a potential solution to CF-associated infections.


The CDP, led by Medicines Discovery Catapult, LifeArc, and Cystic Fibrosis Trust, promotes collaboration across industry, academia, and healthcare to drive CF antimicrobial research forward. The funding will allow Glox to use this cross- sector expertise to accelerate its drug


development. Dr Catherine


Kettleborough, Head of Chronic Respiratory Infection Translational Challenge, LifeArc.


Dr James Clark, CEO of Glox Therapeutics, said: “This funding and collaboration are critical to advancing our unique antibiotics to tackle AMR in CF, addressing an urgent unmet need.”


Dr Catherine Kettleborough, LifeArc, added: “Collaboration is key in overcoming AMR challenges, and we’re excited to support Glox in this important work.”


Dr Beverley Isherwood, Strategy Leader, Infectious Diseases, Medicines Discovery Catapult.


Dr Beverley Isherwood, Medicines Discovery Catapult, and Dr Paula Sommer, Cystic Fibrosis Trust, emphasised the importance of this initiative in developing new treatments to combat the damaging effects of CF lung infections.


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/lK07 63882pr@reply-direct.com


Harnessing nuclear waste to advance cancer treatments


The UK National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL) and Medicines


Discovery Catapult (MDC) have secured funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to explore innovative approaches for producing next-generation cancer treatments from spent nuclear material.


This funding will support efforts to scale up the extraction of precision nuclear medicines from reprocessed uranium, establishing a sovereign capability in this rapidly advancing therapeutic sector. By using the UK’s existing nuclear resources, the initiative aims to position the country as a global leader in radiopharmaceutical development.


Targeted Alpha Therapy (TAT) is an emerging precision medicine approach that offers highly targeted and effective cancer treatments with minimal side effects. One radionuclide of particular interest, Lead-212, can be extracted from reprocessed uranium - previously used to generate electricity in UK nuclear power plants. As it decays with an 11-hour half-life, Lead-212 emits radiation that precisely targets and destroys cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.


While other countries are actively developing radiopharmaceuticals, the UK currently lacks a sustainable pipeline to secure patient access. UKNNL and MDC will assess pathways to provide Lead-212 and other radionuclides to researchers and pharmaceutical developers, ultimately aiming to enable commercial production and NHS adoption.


Professor Paul Howarth, CEO of UKNNL, highlighted the signifi cance of the initiative: “For decades, UKNNL has pioneered uranium processing technologies, and our scientists in Preston are now applying their expertise to extract Lead-212 for medical use. This funding will help advance research, enabling these materials to move closer to clinical application, potentially saving lives. It’s remarkable that uranium, which once powered homes, could now be repurposed to treat cancer.”


Professor Chris Molloy, CEO of MDC, emphasised the broader impact:


“Precision radiopharmaceuticals offer a major opportunity for the UK to reclaim leadership in medicinal radiochemistry. Converting nuclear waste into targeted therapies could revolutionise cancer treatment while ensuring domestic production of vital radiochemicals. By combining MDC’s expertise in drug discovery and radiochemistry with UKNNL’s nuclear capabilities, this project will help establish a sustainable radionuclide supply chain for medical use.”


UKNNL is at the forefront of ensuring the UK’s supply of essential radionuclides, collaborating with researchers to support the development of innovative treatments for cancer, Alzheimer’s, and cardiovascular diseases. Meanwhile, MDC operates a world- class preclinical facility specialising in radiochemistry and advanced imaging technologies - critical assets for translating radiopharmaceutical research into clinical breakthroughs.


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/n3AE 63900pr@reply-direct.com


Major revision of key safety code for the specialty gases sector


New safety guidance for best practice in the use of specialty gases - Code of Practice 18 ‘Gas supply and distribution systems, specialty gases’ (CP 18) - has undergone a signifi cant revision by the British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA).


Specialty gases are used in a wide range of environments, including instrument calibration, process control and high-quality manufacturing, as well as academia and laboratories.


Jake Lake, Technical Manager of the BCGA said: “Specialty gases are vital to academia, industry and laboratories and they are handled and used every day without incident, but to ensure that they continue to be safe there is specific legislation in place, as well as supporting guidance.CP 18 references the appropriate legislation and sets out best practice for managing and distributing them.


“Specialty gases have a defi ned purity level or have properties which include being pyrophoric, toxic or corrosive. They may have an increased quality management requirement or a wider variety of hazardous properties which consequently require specifi c design features and safety controls.


“To manage the hazards, maintain the required properties of these safely and in accordance with the relevant quality system, there are


specifi c requirements for the equipment used and installed and the controls required.


“CP 18 provides best practice for the selection, assembly and operation of pressure equipment and systems to manage specialty gases. It includes the design, construction, installation, putting into service and operation of such systems, as well as guidance on modifi cation (including an addition) to an existing system as well as disposal.


“The Code applies to the physical location where a specialty gas is delivered at the required conditions, for example, pressure, temperature, quality and fl ow, at the junction with the User process. It also outlines safety principles and guidance for the storage and handling of specialty gases and their containers, as well as guidance on disposal – and can assist users in formulating their design and operation policies and practices for the management of specialty gases.


BCGA’s Code Of Practice 18, ‘Gas supply and distribution systems, speciality gases’, is available for free download.


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/25Qo 63466pr@reply-direct.com


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