Causeway Therapeutics

About Causeway Therapeutics

Causeway Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company spun out from the University of Glasgow in 2015. The company was co-founded by Dr. Derek Gilchrist, Mr. Neal Millar, and Professor Iain McInnes. The founders' journey began in a University of Glasgow laboratory where Dr. Gilchrist and Mr. Millar discovered that a specific microRNA, miR-29a, is a critical regulator of collagen production, the proteins that provide strength to tendons. They found that a loss of this molecule is a key factor in the development of tendinopathy, a condition of chronic tendon injury.

The company's core focus is on developing microRNA-based therapies to treat musculoskeletal diseases, particularly tendinopathies, which affect one in ten people and currently have no approved specific therapies. Causeway's lead product is TenoMiR®, a synthetic mimic of miR-29a designed to be injected directly into the damaged tendon. This treatment aims to restore the natural cellular processes, repair tendon structure, reduce pain, and restore function. The company is conducting international Phase 2 clinical trials for TenoMiR® for lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow). Beyond human health, the company is also developing an analogous therapy, EquiMiR™, for tendinopathy in horses.

Causeway Therapeutics operates on a biopharmaceutical business model, focusing on the research and development of its proprietary therapies with the goal of bringing them to market. Its revenue generation will depend on the successful commercialization of its products following clinical trials and regulatory approval. The company has successfully raised significant capital to fund its clinical trials, including a £1M seed round in 2017 and an £8.75M investment in 2023 to advance its Phase 2 trial. Key investors include Mediqventures, Scottish Enterprise, and the University of Glasgow.