Best Life Sciences Companies in Oxford, United Kingdom

Oxford Drug Design is a spinoff from the laboratory of Dr. Graham Richards at the University of Oxford and is focusing on developing novel antibiotics for multi-drug resistance bacterial infections. The company has developed a fast virtual screening and ligand analog searching platform to speed up the drug discovery process. Called 3D ElectroShape technology, the approach involves the use of their proprietary compound databases (containing over 23 million unique molecules), and a combination of structure- and ligand-based virtual screening to find ligands for target proteins.

Funding rounds

• Feb 2026Series A$981.8K
• May 2022Series A$2.7M
• Nov 2019Series A$2.8M
• Nov 2019Grant (prize money)—

Founders & team

Graham RichardsFounder & ChairmanAlan RothCEOPaul FinnChief Scientific Officer

Investors

Europa, CARB-X, IP Group, o2h ventures, Busolantix Investment, ACF Investors

Tech stack

WordpressMysqlPhpGoogle MapsTwenty NineteenApache Http Server

Manufacturer of portable and benchtop devices for real-time DNA sequencing. These instruments utilize nanopore sensing technology to analyze native DNA and RNA molecules. The hardware supports various workflows, including library preparation and data analysis through integrated software tools. Applications include genomic research, microbial identification, and transcriptomics. The technology enables the detection of genetic variations and structural changes in biological samples.

Funding rounds

• Aug 2024Post IPO$64.2M
• Oct 2023Post IPO$84.5M
• May 2021Series H$270.5M
• Oct 2020Series G$110.1M

Founders & team

Hagan BayleyCo-FounderGordon SangheraCo-FounderFrancis ParysCEO

Investors

Illumina, Novo Holdings, Europa, M&G, Temasek, Wellington

Tech stack

AcuityadsAmazon CloudfrontAmazon S3Amazon Web ServicesApple Icloud MailAuthorize.Net

Provider of a platform for mammalian cell engineering. The company provides plasmid and DNA component products and a plasmid technology called SnapFast. The company is designing DNA sequences, optimizing the expression of proteins, developing cell lines, and improving viral delivery systems. It integrates bioinformatics and gene-editing technology to create a streamlined workflow for cell line production.

Funding rounds

• Jul 2025Series A$1M
• May 2020Series A$3.7M
• Mar 2019Series A$8.6M
• Aug 2017Series A$10.3M

Founders & team

Len SeymourCo-Founder

Investors

Mercia, Canaccord Genuity Group, Invesco, Gov, HSBC Bank

Developer of therapeutics modulating transcription factor activity for disease treatment. It focuses on identifying and manipulating master controllers of biology. The company utilizes AI/ML models to reveal novel therapeutics. It validates results in patient-derived models, initially targeting neurodegenerative diseases.

Funding rounds

• Nov 2025Seed$11.9M

Founders & team

Jerry HuangCo-Founder & VP Machine LearningPeter HamleyCo-Founder & CEO

Investors

Oxford Science Enterprises, Apollo Health Ventures, AlbionVC, YZR Capital, Parkwalk, Oxford University Innovation

Tech stack

Apple Icloud MailCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementFramer SitesGoogle AnalyticsGoogle Font Api

Developer of small molecule based therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. It is an oncology and immunology company that targets the acid-sensing GPCR, GPR65, as a unique and genetically-validated immune cell receptor with the potential to revolutionise oncology treatment across multiple solid tumor types.

Funding rounds

• Feb 2025Series B$19M
• Feb 2024Series B$25M
• Jan 2023Series B$8.6M
• Oct 2021Series B$17.8M

Founders & team

Kirsty McCarthyCo-FounderAlan NaylorCo-FounderTom McCarthyCo-Founder & Chairman

Investors

Canaan, Brandon Capital, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gov, Hostplus

AI-assisted platform for cell therapy development. The platform utilizes machine learning technology to screen and identify lead candidates (Chimeric Antigen Receptors) for cell therapy. It uses automation & computation technology for the identification of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CRAs) for therapeutics.

Funding rounds

• Jan 2026Seed—
• Nov 2022Seed$475.7K
• Nov 2022Seed$3M

Founders & team

Yulia LampiCo-FounderSimon BornscheinCo-Founder & CEO

Investors

Bija Ventures, BoxOne Ventures, The Venture Collective, 2048 Ventures

Provider of a storage and transport system for harvested organs. The metra device has a rugged, robust design for ease of transport and safe storage when not in use. It has an extended battery life for transportation and a self regulating oxygen supply, removing the need to carry gas canister. The warm preservation seeks to re-create an environment that mimics the human body by continuously perfusing at physiological pressures and flows with oxygen-carrying red cells at 37˚C and providing nutrition.

Funding rounds

• Feb 2025Series D—
• Jul 2023Series D$32.7M
• Jan 2020Series D$6M
• Apr 2014Series D—

Founders & team

Peter FriendCo-FounderConstantin CoussiosCo-FounderOern StugeChairman

Investors

BGF, Lauxera Capital Partners, Oxford University Innovation, Capgemini Engineering, Oxford Technology, Technikos

Tech stack

AccessibeCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementCookieyesCore-JsDocusign

Enara Bio is developing a T-cell based cancer-cell interface for therapeutics. The company is involved in the immune interface for cancer biology to develop and characterize immunotherapy targets, like dark antigens derived from the genomic dark matter or antigens presented by the cancer-specific MR1 receptor. The company offers proprietary TCR-directed T-cell therapies to target tumor homogeneity and cancer vaccines to generate polyclonal autologous ex vivo stimulation of T-cell products.

Funding rounds

• Oct 2024Series B$32.5M
• May 2021Series A$16.3M
• Nov 2019Series A$17.5M
• Apr 2018Seed$7.8M

Founders & team

Kevin PojasekCEO & PresidentHouman Ashrafian

Investors

M Ventures, Pfizer Ventures, Crick, RA Capital Management, Samsara BioCapital, SV Health Investors

Tech stack

Craft CmsDocusignGodaddyGoogle AnalyticsNginxOpen Graph

Developer of targeted radiopharmaceuticals to treat patients with cancer. It offers 177Lu-rhPSMA-10.1 and 225Ac-rhPSMA-10.1 which provide anti-tumour activity in men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer.

Funding rounds

• Oct 2024Series A$76.5M

Founders & team

David GaudenChief Executive Officer

Investors

Soleus Capital, Sands Capital, Bracco, Woodline Partners, PBM Capital

Tech stack

AhrefsAosCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementCore-JsFullcalendar

Developer of artificial intelligence software for identifying potential drug candidates. This technology utilizes biological and chemical datasets to analyze cellular images and identify disease targets. The platform facilitates the design of molecules for therapeutic applications in oncology and rare diseases. Automated laboratory systems capture experimental data to refine machine learning models used in the drug discovery process. These computational tools assist in the identification of treatments for conditions with unmet medical needs.

Funding rounds

• Dec 2023Grant (prize money)$2.3M
• Oct 2021Post IPO$160M
• Jul 2021Grant (prize money)$1.5M
• Apr 2021Series D$225M

Founders & team

Chris GibsonCo-Founder & CEONajat KhanCEO

Investors

SoftBank Vision Fund, Novo Holdings, BlackRock, Mubadala, Farallon Capital Management, Casdin Capital

Developer of small molecule-based therapeutics for cancer treatment. The company has developed drugs targeting a key protein in the antigen presentation pathway to allow modulation of the neoantigen repertoire on tumor cells and illuminates non-responsive tumors for destruction, thus helping in the treatment.

Oxford Vacmedix, a spin-out from Oxford University, is developing therapeutic agents for cancer. Its therapeutics are based on the invention of Dr Shisong Jiang - Recombinant Overlapping Peptides (ROP) technology. ROPs are antigens being presented to the T Cell Receptor (TCR) that triggers the growth of T-cells which results in immune response against cancer cell expressing the same marker.

Funding rounds

• Nov 2024Series B$3M
• Jul 2024Grant (prize money)—
• Mar 2018Series A$12.5M

Founders & team

Shisong JiangFounder & DirectorWilliam FinchCEO

Investors

MG Med, Ukri, Dxvx, JIA HE JIN HUI INVESTMENT, Oxford University Innovation, Kanserop

Tech stack

WordpressMysqlPhpGoogle MapsAstraElementor