News
January 2013: Interim investment round first closing. Sarum has successfully raised funds in a difficult climate to support its larger fund raising aspirations. The Company is pleased to have secured financial support from both new and existing investors as it looks to strengthen its interest in the diagnostic sector.
March 2012: Consortium award for COPD diagnostic development project. Sarum has been successful as part of a consortium bid for £500K grant to support development of a diagnostic for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
July 2011: Completion of grant funded project to begin development of a Clostridium difficile diagnostic test. This project marks the Company’s entry into the field of diagnostics.
October 2010: Sarum are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Andy Shuttleworth to the Company's board as a Non-Executive Director. Andy brings to the Company a wealth of scientific expertise, particularly in the field of diagnostics technology. Further information about Dr. Shuttleworth is available in 'The Company'.
August 2010: In a further move to strengthen its knowledge base, Dr. Arjan Narbad from the company’s collaborators at the Institute of Food Research in Norwich has accepted the company’s invitation to join its Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Narbad’s experience in gut microbiology and Clostridium difficile disease has been, and will continue to be, very important to Sarum’s progress in this area.
July 2010: Sarum are pleased to announce the appointment of Sir Roger Jones as Chairman of the company’s Scientific Advisory Board. Sir Roger brings with him a wealth of experience in scientific research and commercialisation, experience which will be of great value to Sarum’s efforts.
January 2010: Sarum Biosciences signs licence agreement with PBL for Clostridium difficile bacteriophage endolysin technology - view PDF download
July 2009: Sarum licences key technology in the field of Clostridium difficile with treatment, prophylaxis and detection applications. Details to follow.
January 2009: Completion of manufacturing development programme. Sarum has worked with the National Biomanufacturing Centre (Speke, UK) to develop a GMP-compliant manufacturing process for its acne programme. This significant milestone is an important step in the commercial exploitation of the acne phage treatment.
July 2008: Grant of US patent. Key claims have been granted in the US in respect of the patent covering Sarum’s acne bacteriophage therapy technology, strengthening the company’s patent position and adding considerable value to its acne development programme.
May 2008: New laboratory facilities at the School of Pharmacy in the University of Cardiff. The company is pleased to announce the establishment of its main laboratory operations within the School of Pharmacy in the University of Cardiff.
Sarum is also pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Leon O’Malley to its team. Leon earned his PhD researching the microbial biochemistry of biocides at Cardiff University. Prior to joining Sarum, Leon worked as a Senior Research Scientist in product development for a global disinfection company, managing antimicrobial development from the bench to commercial trials. Leon will take a lead role in the development of Sarum’s bacteriophage technology, including the new C.difficile project.
February 2008: Dr. David Rooke joins Sarum Biosciences as non-executive Director, Dr. Rooke has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over 35 years. Formerly head of pharmaceutical development at SmithKline Beecham he has been a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry for more than 15 years and is the founder and director of three pharmaceutical consultancy and “knowledge management” companies: ProTEM Services and Good Training Practice (GTP) in the UK and Technicas de Deseno y Validacion (TDV) based in Barcelona, Spain. TDV is now recognised as one of the foremost pharmaceutical consultancies in Spain.
David is an advisory board member and associate professor at Brunel University Institute of Bioengineering and was instrumental in the first major technology spin out, Dynamic Extractions, and is currently involved in evaluating other potential technology applications both at Brunel and other university and technology centres in the UK.
January 2008: Non-executive Director Prof. Tony Atkinson is appointed as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine for his achievements in the healthcare field.
November 2007: Sarum completes latest fund raising round. Private investment has been secured to fund further development of the company’s bacteriophage programme, including its new pipeline project for the treatment of Clostridium difficile.
July 2007: Sarum Biosciences signs exclusive licence deal with Leeds University. This agreement gives Sarum exclusive access to IPR and technology in relation to Leeds’ acne bacteriophage therapy development programme.
June 2007: Work carried out by Professor Keith Holland’s team in collaboration with Sarum Biosciences has been published in the Journal of Bacteriology (Genome Sequence and Analysis of a Propionibacterium acnes Bacteriophage (2007) Farrar et al. J. Bacteriol. 189: 4161-4167).