14th June 2019 / UKI2S, a leading early-stage venture capital fund facilitating the growth of UK life science companies, congratulates the former management team of Quethera led by CEO Dr. Peter Widdowson and CSO Professor Keith Martin as winners of the British Venture Capital Association Management Team Award.
The team founded and built gene therapy specialist Quethera Ltd through to a successful acquisition by Astellas Pharma Inc. in August 2018. This award is recognition of their outstanding achievement. The BVCA Management Team Awards are an annual showcase for the best businesses in the UK backed by private equity and venture capital, produced in association with Grant Thornton UK LLP.
The UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) was the lead investor in Quethera, founding and backing the company with co-investment from Cambridge Enterprise and Parkwalk. With the investment and support from UKI2S Quethera demonstrated its novel approach to glaucoma had compelling potential. UKI2S invests in very early stage companies, helping build their teams and de-risk complex technology, often following-up with subsequent investment. The investors backing and subsequent purchase by Astellas now ensures the product will deliver therapy in an area of high unmet need.
UKI2S Investment Director, Oliver Sexton, commented: “The acquisition of Quethera by Astellas showcases the team behind Quethera and the ability of the fund to back very early, high risk but high potential ideas. Led by such talented management, and as a result of the initial investment, Quethera was able to produce compelling initial data that led to acquisition by Astellas”.