Top 14 Cancer treatment startups in UK
May 08, 2026
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1
Funding: $1.2B
Immunocore is a privately owned, clinical-stage, UK-based biotechnology company, focused on the discovery and development of novel T cell receptor-based drugs to treat diseases with a high unmet need, including cancer and viral disease.
Immunocore is a privately owned, clinical-stage, UK-based biotechnology company, focused on the discovery and development of novel T cell receptor-based drugs to treat diseases with a high unmet need, including cancer and viral disease.
2
Funding: $1.1B
Autolus uses advanced CAR-T cell therapy to treat hematological malignancies and solid tumors. While CAR T-cell therapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, it can also cause significant immunotoxicity. Autolus has developed a novel CAR-construct with rapid binding kinetics that is similar to natural T cells and provides improved tolerability in patients with certain types of leukemia. Furthermore, Autolus addresses the issue of immunotoxicity through a personalized dosing approach. The company is also seeking to adopt CAR-T therapy to patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, T-cell lymphoma and solid tumors. It is supporting several ongoing CAR-T clinical trials that are opening up new treatment options and offering new hope for these patients.
Autolus uses advanced CAR-T cell therapy to treat hematological malignancies and solid tumors. While CAR T-cell therapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, it can also cause significant immunotoxicity. Autolus has developed a novel CAR-construct with rapid binding kinetics that is similar to natural T cells and provides improved tolerability in patients with certain types of leukemia. Furthermore, Autolus addresses the issue of immunotoxicity through a personalized dosing approach. The company is also seeking to adopt CAR-T therapy to patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, T-cell lymphoma and solid tumors. It is supporting several ongoing CAR-T clinical trials that are opening up new treatment options and offering new hope for these patients.
3
Funding: $1.1B
Bicycle Therapeutics is developing a technology for the creation of new generation biotherapeutics.
Bicycle Therapeutics is developing a technology for the creation of new generation biotherapeutics.
4
Funding: $213M
Achilles Tx's mission is to develop next-generation, patient-specific therapies that harness the immune system to destroy cancer cells
Achilles Tx's mission is to develop next-generation, patient-specific therapies that harness the immune system to destroy cancer cells
5
Funding: $192.5M
PsiOxus aims to be the world’s leading cancer gene therapy company, delivering medicines of value to patients with cancer.
PsiOxus aims to be the world’s leading cancer gene therapy company, delivering medicines of value to patients with cancer.
6
Funding: $188M
Pheon Therapeutics is developing a portfolio of next-generation ADCs with the potential to treat difficult-to-treat solid tumors. Recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all solution in ADC development, Pheon takes an adaptive approach to ADC development. Using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against both novel and clinically proven ADC targets and equipping them with either proprietary platform active substances with a novel mechanism of action or pre-existing linker combinations, Pheon precisely ensures the balance of safety and efficacy for each target. Pheon has assembled a world-class leadership team with two decades of ADC experience. The company is currently conducting Phase I clinical trials of its lead asset, which has demonstrated robust preclinical data, including in vivo efficacy, NHP safety and extensive expression profiling in tumors and healthy tissue.
Pheon Therapeutics is developing a portfolio of next-generation ADCs with the potential to treat difficult-to-treat solid tumors. Recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all solution in ADC development, Pheon takes an adaptive approach to ADC development. Using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against both novel and clinically proven ADC targets and equipping them with either proprietary platform active substances with a novel mechanism of action or pre-existing linker combinations, Pheon precisely ensures the balance of safety and efficacy for each target. Pheon has assembled a world-class leadership team with two decades of ADC experience. The company is currently conducting Phase I clinical trials of its lead asset, which has demonstrated robust preclinical data, including in vivo efficacy, NHP safety and extensive expression profiling in tumors and healthy tissue.
7
Funding: $168.7M
A breathalyzer for disease. Owlstone Medical has developed Breath Biopsy technology to identify non-invasive VOC biomarkers in breath.
A breathalyzer for disease. Owlstone Medical has developed Breath Biopsy technology to identify non-invasive VOC biomarkers in breath.
8
Funding: $148.2M
Crescendo has developed a novel bispecific T-cell engager for the selective activation of tumour-specific T-cells exclusively within the tumour microenvironment
Crescendo has developed a novel bispecific T-cell engager for the selective activation of tumour-specific T-cells exclusively within the tumour microenvironment
9
Funding: $64.3M
Theolytics is a biotechnology company harnessing viruses to combat cancer. A step-change in the oncolytic viral therapy field, our phenotypic screening Platform enables the discovery and development of efficacious, targeted candidates suitable for intravenous delivery and optimised for a chosen patient population.
Theolytics is a biotechnology company harnessing viruses to combat cancer. A step-change in the oncolytic viral therapy field, our phenotypic screening Platform enables the discovery and development of efficacious, targeted candidates suitable for intravenous delivery and optimised for a chosen patient population.
10
Funding: $52M
Iksuda Therapeutics develops ADCs with enhanced tumor specificity. They incorporate tumor-specific, selective release and activation of payloads through mechanisms relevant to the target and tumor, thereby optimizing anticancer efficacy and improving patient safety. The company has also developed a new class of alkylating protein payloads, ProAlk. With their tailored properties to specific ADCs and broad applicability across various tumor types, Iksuda is currently developing a new ProAlk-ADC portfolio. The company's portfolio includes clinical trials against B-cell malignancies, breast cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer and cervical cancer.
Iksuda Therapeutics develops ADCs with enhanced tumor specificity. They incorporate tumor-specific, selective release and activation of payloads through mechanisms relevant to the target and tumor, thereby optimizing anticancer efficacy and improving patient safety. The company has also developed a new class of alkylating protein payloads, ProAlk. With their tailored properties to specific ADCs and broad applicability across various tumor types, Iksuda is currently developing a new ProAlk-ADC portfolio. The company's portfolio includes clinical trials against B-cell malignancies, breast cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer and cervical cancer.
11
Funding: $39.8M
Around the world the incidence of cancer is growing, and with it the demand for better, faster and less expensive solutions for diagnosis and treatment. With the aim of bringing cancer care to everyone, everywhere, Endomag is developing a clinical platform that uses safe magnetic fields to power diagnostic and therapeutic devices, avoiding the safety, workflow and availability concerns of ionizing radiation.
Around the world the incidence of cancer is growing, and with it the demand for better, faster and less expensive solutions for diagnosis and treatment. With the aim of bringing cancer care to everyone, everywhere, Endomag is developing a clinical platform that uses safe magnetic fields to power diagnostic and therapeutic devices, avoiding the safety, workflow and availability concerns of ionizing radiation.
12
Funding: $12.5M
Oxford Vacmedix develops therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer based on the Recombinant Overlapping Peptides (ROP).
Oxford Vacmedix develops therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer based on the Recombinant Overlapping Peptides (ROP).
13
Funding: $8.5M
Vine Health provides intelligent digital technology to support people going through cancer treatment to manage their care, using a combination of behavioural science and AI.
Vine Health provides intelligent digital technology to support people going through cancer treatment to manage their care, using a combination of behavioural science and AI.
14
Roquefort Therapeutics is a biotech company focused on developing first in class medicines in the high value and high growth oncology market.
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