Oxyrane

About Oxyrane

Oxyrane is a biopharmaceutical company founded in 2006 by Charles Richard III, dedicated to developing novel enzyme replacement therapies (ERTs) for a group of over 40 rare inherited conditions known as lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs). The company is headquartered in Manchester, UK, with research facilities in Ghent, Belgium, and formerly medical and regulatory operations in Boston, USA.

The company's core technology is a proprietary glyco-engineering yeast expression platform (OxyCAT), which utilizes the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. This platform is designed to produce bio-superior therapeutic proteins with enhanced human sugar structures, specifically mannose 6-phosphate (M6P), which is crucial for targeting enzymes to the lysosomes within cells. This process can yield enzymes with 3-15 times more M6P, potentially leading to a more than 20-fold improvement in cellular uptake compared to existing commercial methods. This increased potency and more efficient targeting could result in greater efficacy at lower doses.

Oxyrane's business model is centered on the research and clinical development of its pipeline products. Its lead product candidate, OXY2810, is a pre-clinical ERT for Pompe disease, a severe muscle disorder caused by acid alpha-glucosidase enzyme deficiency. The company has also focused on developing treatments for neuronopathic Gaucher Disease and Parkinson's Disease. In 2021, Oxyrane entered into a research collaboration with Bioasis Technologies to combine their respective platforms to deliver an enhanced ERT across the blood-brain barrier for treating CNS disorders.

Since its inception, Oxyrane has raised a total of $76 million over several funding rounds. A significant Series D round in May 2017 brought in $49.5 million, with participation from investors such as Forbion, New Science Ventures, and Global Private Group. PitchBook information indicates the company may now be out of business as of January 2025.