Australian Universities Collaborate to Tackle Inflammatory Diseases with Launch of Resseptor Therapeutics
24 May 2023
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New Company Developing Immune Therapeutics for Autoimmunity and Cancer
A new Australian biotech company, Resseptor Therapeutics (‘Resseptor’), has launched with an initial AU$2.25 million investment to develop new therapies targeting autoimmune diseases and cancer.
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The funding round was led by leading university research commercialisation specialist IP Group Australia and will support the company through pre-clinical proof-of-concept.
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Resseptor aims to develop new therapies for inflammatory conditions based on novel technology that improves the way our immune system recognises and responds to tissues, malignancy, and pathogens.
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The crucial discoveries were made by a multidisciplinary team of researchers during their tenure at Monash University, with the core intellectual property licensed to Resseptor by Monash Innovation. The founding team is based across Monash University, La Trobe University and QUT.
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Dr Steve Daley, an expert immunologist with QUT’s Centre for Immunology and Infection Control and co-founding scientist at Resseptor said: “Resseptor is an example of how an idea and a compelling challenge brings individual researchers, universities, and investors together.
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“The combination of our underlying technology, team and investment support gives us an opportunity to develop a potentially transformative treatment for some of the most challenging inflammatory conditions.” Dr Alisa Selimovic, Senior Investment Manager at IP Group Australia and Director of Resseptor said: “We are excited to bring together a world-leading team at Resseptor and support cutting-edge Australian research that has the potential for global impact. We are looking forward to sharing Resseptor’s progress as the company advances through proof-of-concept studies.”
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Dr Katherine Nielsen, Senior Director of Commercialisation at Monash Innovation, said: “Resseptor is an example of the translation of impactful inventions emerging from Monash researchers tackling the great challenges in treating inflammatory diseases, an area of expertise in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.
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Our partnership with IP Group has been long-standing, and this seed funding for Resseptor marks the sixth investment in a Monash University spinout, and is a clear reflection of the strong and enduring relationship we have built over time.”
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Media contacts
Aileen Bodart, Cannings Strategic Communications, abodart@canningscomms.com.au, +61 432 160 136
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About Resseptor Therapeutics
Resseptor Therapeutics ‘Resseptor’ is a venture-backed company focused on developing new pharmaceutical agents to address unmet needs across inflammatory conditions. The company was founded by Dr. Stephen Daley (Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Queensland University of Technology), Professor Anthony Purcell (the Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University), Professor Stephanie Gras (La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University) and Associate Professor Joshua Ooi (Centre for Inflammatory Disease Monash Health, Monash University), bringing together cutting edge research and expertise in immunology, antigen discovery and T cell biology.
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About IP Group
IP Group accelerates the impact of science for a better future, developing and supporting some of the world’s most exciting businesses in deeptech, life sciencesand cleantech (led by Kiko Ventures). Our specialist investment team combines sector expertise with an international approach. In Australia and New Zealand, IP Group works in close partnership with the Go8 Universities and the University of Auckland to identify ground-breaking technologies rooted in hard science, which have the most promising commercial potential. We have a strong track record of success, having backed high-profile companies including Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc, First Light Fusion, Hysata, and Oxbotica. IP Group is listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange under the code IPO. For more information, please visit our website at www.ipgroupanz.com.
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About the Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Queensland University of Technology
The Centre for Immunology and Infection Control is an inter-disciplinary and cross-sectoral innovation hub to investigate and develop tools to diagnose, prevent and treat diseases resulting from immune dysregulation or pathogen infection. For more information, please visit our website at https://research.qut.edu.au/ciic/.
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About the Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University
With more than 120 internationally-renowned research teams, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) is one of the largest biomedical research institutes in Australia. BDI works across six global health priority areas in cancer, cardiovascular disease, development and stem cells, infection and immunity, metabolism, diabetes and neuroscience. Their multi-disciplinary research team works collaboratively to answer cutting-edge research questions alongside industry and clinicians. This approach accelerates the pathway from research discovery to real world impact.
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About the Centre for Inflammatory Disease Monash Health, Monash University
The Monash University Centre for Inflammatory Diseases (CID) spans basic experimental biology, clinical research and clinical practice in inflammatory diseases. CID uses both clinical and laboratory based experimental techniques to explore the mechanisms of inflammatory injury in important human diseases - and then relate these to unmet needs in patient treatment and management. Researchers within the Centre are expert in laboratory based and clinically focused research. Combined with state of the art infrastructure, it is the mission of CID to understand the mechanisms of immune/ inflammatory diseases so that new therapeutic can be developed for clinical applications.
About the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University
The La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS) is committed to solving global problems and improving the welfare of human societies. The Institute embodies La Trobe University's strategic vision: to be globally recognised for its excellence, creativity and innovation in relation to the big issues of our time. To find out more, please visit our website at http://www.latrobe.edu.au/lims.
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