Preventing Blood Clots Without Bleeding

We're creating the next generation
anticoagulant therapy.

About LUNAC Therapeutics

At LUNAC Therapeutics we're developing a first-in-class, next generation oral anticoagulant for the treatment and prevention of life-threatening thrombotic events, without the bleeding risk associated with current anticoagulants.

Our focus is on the inhibition of activated Factor XII (FXIIa), a clotting factor enzyme which plays a key role in pathological clot formation (thrombosis) but not in the stemming of bleeding (haemostasis).

LUNAC is a spin-out company from the University of Leeds, founded and supported by world-leading experts in blood coagulation.

Professor Helen Philippou

Helen Philippou is Professor of Translational Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Leeds. She is a world-leading researcher on the blood coagulation cascade, with >60 peer reviewed publications in high impact journal and 3 published patents. Helen serves on the Editorial Board of the RPTH Journal, is the Scientific Secretary for the British Society of Haemostasis and Thrombosis Society Committee (since 2016), and is a Co-Chair for the FXI and Contact System SSC of the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH).

Dr. Richard Foster

Dr Richard Foster is an Associate Professor at the University of Leeds. He directs a large, multidisciplinary team in the area of small molecule hit identification and optimisation. Prior to joining the University of Leeds, Richard was a senior research manager at Tripos Discovery Research where he led medicinal chemistry efforts directed at cardiovascular, metabolic, inflammatory and CNS disorders. Richard has co-authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications and patents.

Our Science

Oral anticoagulants are life-saving drugs which are significantly under-utilised because of the difficulty of balancing anti-thrombotic activity with risk of major bleeding. All current anticoagulants target parts of the coagulation cascade which are essential for normal blood clotting.

LUNAC Therapeutics is taking a different approach; our first-in-class oral small molecule targets activated Factor XII (FXIIa), a coagulation factor enzyme that plays a key role in pathological occlusive clot formation but not in the normal stemming of bleeding.

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Our People

Dr. Mervyn Turner

CHAIRMAN

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Prof. Helen Philippou

BOARD MEMBER

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Dr. Pete Finan

BOARD MEMBER

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Dr. Mary Canning

BOARD MEMBER

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Dr. Sarah Jarmin

BOARD MEMBER

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Richard Brooks, CA

HEAD OF FINANCE

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Dr. Alan Naylor

ADVISOR

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Dr. John Dixon

ADVISOR

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Dr. Bob Humphries

ADVISOR

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Epidarex Capital

Epidarex Capital invests in early-stage, high growth life science and health technology Epidarex Capital is a transatlantic venture fund that invests in early-stage, high growth life science and health technology companies in under-ventured markets.

Epidarex focuses on providing risk capital to young companies, including spin-outs from leading research institutions in up and coming life science hubs. The firm’s international management team has a track record of successfully partnering with top scientists and entrepreneurs to develop highly innovative products for the global healthcare market.

University of Leeds

The University of Leeds has an impressive track record in transforming academic research into commercial success and has created more than 110 spin-out companies since 1995.

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