Lectus Therapeutics

About Lectus Therapeutics

Lectus Therapeutics Limited was a UK-based biopharmaceutical company established in 2002 with a focus on discovering and developing novel drugs for pain management and diseases related to smooth muscle hyperreactivity. The company commenced its main operations in the summer of 2003. Its core strategy revolved around its proprietary functional proteomics platform, LEPTICS™ (Leveraged Enabling Proteomics Technology for Ion Channel Screening). This technology was designed to identify next-generation ion channel modulators, which are crucial proteins that control ion flow in cells and are integral to functions like nerve impulse transmission and muscle movement.

The company's business model was centered on research and development to create small molecule therapeutics. Lectus aimed to develop compounds that could offer significant clinical and economic benefits over existing therapies by targeting ion channel accessory proteins, a novel approach anticipated to yield a better safety profile. Its therapeutic areas of interest were broad, including neuropathic pain, multiple sclerosis, angina, asthma, and epilepsy. Lectus secured a total of $20.3 million in funding over two rounds. The initial Series A round occurred in February 2006, with a subsequent round in September 2007 that included investors like Sofinnova Partners, Astellas Venture Management, Takeda Ventures, and Wellcome Trust.

A significant milestone was achieved in December 2008, when the company advanced a novel modulator of N-type (Cav2.2) ion channels from research into development for pain treatment. This validated the potential of their LEPTICS® platform. Ultimately, in November 2011, Lectus Therapeutics was acquired by the global biopharmaceutical company UCB Pharma. Through a licence and acquisition agreement, UCB gained all of Lectus's drug discovery and development programs targeting ion channels for central nervous system (CNS) indications, as well as exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize products from the LEPTICS® technology for other ion channel targets. At the time of the acquisition, Roland Kozlowski served as the CEO of Lectus.