Bath-based Revolver Therapeutics – well known as a developer of oncology therapeutics designed to target cancer – has secured a further £572k funding round led by QantX, with follow-on investment from the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) (managed by Future Planet Capital), as well as from the University of Bath.
The funding supports a novel approach to treating colorectal cancer by targeting transcription factors, which have been considered “undruggable”. Transcription factors act like master regulators of disease inside cells, controlling which genes are turned on or off.
In cancer, they can drive tumour growth, survival and resistance to treatment. But they have been notoriously hard to target with conventional drugs: they sit deep inside the cell’s nucleus and lack the “binding pockets” that conventional small molecules typically dock into.
Revolver’s treatments are built around specially designed peptides – small, protein-like molecules – discovered using its proprietary Transcription Block Survival platform, a technology spun out of the University of Bath. The platform identifies peptides that can enter cells and switch off these previously unreachable targets, overcoming a long-standing barrier that has held back this kind of therapy.
The new funding will allow Revolver – a University of Bath spin-out – to develop both its platform and its pipeline of new treatments for colorectal cancer with unmet medical needs.
Jody Mason, Chief Scientific Officer of Revolver Therapeutics and Professor of Biochemistry in the University of Bath’s Department of Life Sciences, said: “This funding is a huge vote of confidence in the team and the science we’ve built here at Bath.
“For years, transcription factors have been seen as some of the most important – yet most stubborn – targets in cancer, sitting beyond the reach of conventional drugs. Backing like this is exactly what a spin-out needs to take bold science from the lab and turn it into something that could genuinely help patients.
“We’ve already shown we can stop tumour cells growing in the lab while cracking the challenge of getting our molecules inside cells – a hurdle that has held this field back for years. This investment lets us build on that progress, starting with colorectal cancer, and move closer to new treatments for the people who need them most. We’re hugely grateful to our investors for believing in what we’re trying to achieve – for colorectal cancer and beyond.”
Richard Haycock, Co-Founder and CEO of QantX Ltd, said: “Revolver is going after targets that have defeated drug discovery for decades – that’s exactly the kind of hard science QantX exists to back.
“They’re a standout example of world-class innovation coming out of the South West of England, taking on one of the toughest challenges in cancer research. By going after targets that have defeated conventional drugs for decades, Revolver could open the door to a whole new way of treating cancer and other hard-to-tackle diseases. We led this round because we believe in Jody’s team and the science, and we’re proud to keep backing them as they push into colorectal cancer.”
Oliver Sexton, Investment Director at UKI2S, managed by Future Planet Capital, said: “We first backed Revolver in 2024, and we’re delighted to be doubling down with this follow-on investment. Revolver continues to pioneer an exciting new approach to cancer treatment by targeting transcription factors – proteins that have been tough to tackle in cancer research until now.
“Their novel platform produces first-in-class, cell-penetrating peptides with an excellent product profile, and with this investment they are now advancing their first therapeutic assets, including into colorectal cancer. We’re proud to continue supporting Revolver’s team as they bring this innovative science closer to helping patients facing challenging cancers.”
Revolver Therapeutics was spun out of the University of Bath with the support of the Technology Transfer team in Research and Innovation Services (RIS), which helped translate Professor Jody Mason’s pioneering research into a commercial venture and continues to back the company as it grows. It is a strong example of the world-class science emerging from the University and being taken from the lab towards real-world impact for patients.
Jennifer Rogers, Technology Transfer team, Research and Innovation Services, University of Bath, added: “We are delighted to see Revolver Therapeutics, a spin-out from the University, continue to attract investment and move forward on its mission to inhibit the transcription factors that are critical for cancer cell proliferation. It’s a wonderful example of how university research can grow into a company with the potential to change patients’ lives, and we’re proud to have supported the team on this journey from the very beginning.”
About Revolver Therapeutics
- Revolver Therapeutics is a University of Bath spin-out developing a new class of cancer therapeutics that target transcription factors – proteins that act as master regulators of tumour growth but have historically been considered “undruggable”. Using its proprietary Transcription Block Survival platform,
- Revolver discovers constrained, cell-penetrating peptide inhibitors capable of functionally inhibiting transcription factors inside the cell, with an initial therapeutic focus on colorectal cancer.
- Learn more at www.revolvertherapeutics.com
About QantX
- QantX Ltd is an appointed representative of Kin Capital Partners LLP, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”). QantX is a patient, growth-based investor from the early stages of the innovation cycle.
- Investing in high-impact innovation in the South & South West of England, QantX have a modern economy focus, which includes revolutionising healthcare.
- Learn more at https://qantx.co.uk/.
About UKI2S
Learn more at ukinnovationscienceseedfund.co.uk.
The UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) is a government-backed seed fund, independently managed by Future Planet Capital (Ventures), that invests in and grows early-stage, science-led companies emerging from the UK’s public research base.
Investing at the pre-seed and seed stage, UKI2S helps turn world-class science into commercially viable businesses, providing not only capital but strategic guidance, network access and long-term, patient support, UKI2S is backed by public partners including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its research councils, the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA)and the Ministry of Defence (MOD), among others.
