Scripta Therapeutics

Scripta Therapeutics is an Oxford-based tech-bio company founded in 2024 by industry veteran Peter Hamley and Professor Noel Buckley of the University of Oxford. The company operates at the intersection of biotechnology and artificial intelligence, employing a 'biology-first' approach to drug discovery. This strategy centers on transcription factors, which are the master regulators of gene expression that can define and drive disease. By creating detailed 'disease maps' through the integration of AI, multi-omics, advanced imaging, and patient-derived cellular models, Scripta aims to identify and modulate the transcriptional networks that cause disease.

The company's platform is designed to reprogram diseased cells back to a healthy state by modulating transcription factor activity, moving beyond treating symptoms to addressing the root biological causes. This method challenges conventional target-based drug discovery, which often focuses on a narrow set of well-researched biological mechanisms. Scripta's initial therapeutic focus is on neurodegenerative disorders with significant unmet needs, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS. However, its technology is biology-agnostic and holds the potential for application in other areas like cancer, fibrosis, and inflammation.

In November 2025, Scripta Therapeutics emerged from stealth, announcing it had secured $12 million in a seed funding round co-led by Oxford Science Enterprises and Apollo Health Ventures, with additional investment from AlbionVC, YZR Capital, and Parkwalk Advisors. The funds are intended to support the expansion of its operations and the development of its discovery platform. The company's business model is centered on developing disease-modifying therapeutics. As part of its growth, experienced biotech leader Ray Barlow was appointed to the board as a Non-Executive Director.

Keywords: tech-bio, drug discovery, transcription factors, neurodegenerative disorders, AI in drug discovery, Alzheimer's research, Parkinson's research, disease-modifying therapeutics, gene expression modulation, computational biology, patient-derived models, multi-omics, cell reprogramming, biotechnology, pharmaceutical research, Oxford startup, Peter Hamley, Noel Buckley, biology-first approach, transcriptional networks