University of Leeds spin-out wins national award

LUNAC, a spin-out company from the School of Chemistry at the University of Leeds has won the prestigious Start Up of the Year award.

LUNAC Therapeutics, a Leeds spin-out company pursuing the discovery of next-generation therapies to prevent blood clots, has won a national award for its work. The UK based drug discovery company focused on the development of advanced life-saving anticoagulants was announced as the Start Up of the Year award winner at the 2021 Medilink North of England National Healthcare Business Awards. LUNAC also previously won the Medilink North of England Healthcare Business Awards.

Founded on a decade of academic research, the business is driven by the expertise of Dr Richard Foster (School of Chemistry) and Professor Helen Philippou from the Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine and Health. 

Dr Foster said, “Since 2019, LUNAC has raised £13 million of funds from Life Science Investors and Innovate UK. Oral anticoagulants can be life-saving drugs in cases of thrombosis, however current therapies present clinicians and patients with a difficult choice – anticoagulant efficacy or an increased risk of bleeding. By breaking the link between efficacy and risk of bleeding we aim to provide a paradigm shift in the prevention of thrombosis. LUNAC is aiming to develop a first-in-class anticoagulant therapy with minimal risk of bleeding to address a large unmet clinical need.”

LUNAC is aiming to develop a first-in-class anticoagulant therapy with minimal risk of bleeding to address a large unmet clinical need.

The Medilink Healthcare Business Awards showcase the best in the Life Sciences sector across the UK. Shortlisted organisations represent industry, academia and the NHS. The Start Up of the Year award recognises newly established companies that show a promising future.

More information

Find out more about the Foster Research Group and the research the Group is working on.