Five Alarm Bio (FAB) has completed a seed investment round, raising over £500K ($605K).
The funding will drive proprietary research into novel compounds that extend healthy lifespan of cells and tissues, with therapeutic potential across a broad range of age-related diseases.
Investors include Cambridge Angels, Meltwind, o2h Ventures, and SyndicateRoom, as well as other Angel investors, with support from KPMG Acceleris.
This funding follows a £360K ($435K) Biomedical Catalyst grant from Innovate UK, awarded to FAB early in 2022 to develop its technology as a treatment for chronic wounds.
Based on advances in understanding of how age-associated chemical damage accumulates in cells and tissues, FAB is developing an innovative small molecule approach aimed at boosting our defences as we age, to ultimately extend the healthy lifespan of our bodies.
Age-related diseases such as arthritis, sarcopenia and Alzheimer’s Disease are among the leading causes of disability and mortality across the developed world, and a major burden on health funding. Globally, the anti-ageing therapeutics market is expected to reach $2.01 billion by 2030.
Dr Janette Thomas, CEO of Five Alarm Bio, said: “Whilst life expectancy has increased over recent years, our healthy lifespan has not kept up. Anti-ageing science therefore has huge value. Here at FAB our proprietary approach aims to overcome this fundamental challenge to human health as we work to discover and develop new drugs for age-associated diseases.”
Founded in 2016 by three experienced entrepreneurs, FAB is currently based in purpose-built lab facilities on the Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge.