Five Alarm Bio

Five Alarm Bio (FAB) is a drug discovery company, founded in 2016 and based near Cambridge, UK, that develops therapeutics to combat age-related diseases. The company's core technology is a small molecule approach designed to enhance the body's natural defenses against the chemical damage that accumulates in cells and tissues with age. This strategy targets unexplored mechanisms of aging and has potential applications across a wide range of conditions, including chronic wounds, arthritis, sarcopenia, and Alzheimer's disease. The company is also exploring the application of its technology in the cosmeceuticals market for skin aging.

Five Alarm Bio was founded by three experienced entrepreneurs: Dr. William Bains (CSO), Sunil Shah, and Ann Baker. Dr. Bains is a scientist and entrepreneur with a long track record in biological research and commercialization, whose work focuses on the chemical failures of life, particularly in aging. His motivation to start the company was partly inspired by his mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis, which pushed him to translate his academic expertise into practical applications. Dr. Janette Thomas, who has over 25 years of experience in pharmaceutical drug discovery and development at companies like GSK and Horizon Discovery, was later appointed CEO. The company operates from laboratory facilities at the Babraham Research Campus, a well-known hub for bioscience.

The company's business model is centered on the discovery and development of its proprietary small molecules. Initially funded by its founders, Five Alarm Bio has since secured external funding to advance its research. In early 2022, it was awarded a £360,000 Biomedical Catalyst grant from Innovate UK to develop its technology for treating chronic wounds. This was followed by a seed investment round of over £500,000 in early 2023 from investors including Cambridge Angels, Meltwind, o2h Ventures, and SyndicateRoom. The company's lead compound, FAB001, is a small molecule inhibitor aimed at blocking extracellular matrix crosslinking and has shown promising preclinical results. The firm's research has demonstrated the ability to reduce cell senescence in vitro and slow aging in model organisms.

Keywords: anti-aging therapeutics, small molecule drugs, drug discovery, age-related diseases, cellular damage, chemoprotection, healthy lifespan, chronic wound healing, Alzheimer's disease, cell senescence, biotechnology, sarcopenia, extracellular matrix, fibrotic diseases, cosmeceuticals, longevity science, Cambridge UK, Babraham Research Campus, William Bains, Janette Thomas