Iceni Glycoscience

Iceni Glycoscience operates as a platform company at the intersection of carbohydrate chemistry and biology, developing novel diagnostics and therapeutics. Founded in 2014 by Professor David Russell and Professor Rob Field, the Norwich-based firm emerged as a spin-out from the University of East Anglia and the John Innes Centre, built upon more than 17 years of collaborative research between the founders in carbohydrate recognition. The company's core technology leverages glycoscience, the study of complex sugars (glycans) that coat every cell in the human body. This approach targets the initial binding stage between a pathogen and a host cell's 'sugar code,' a mechanism that remains consistent even as viruses mutate. This allows for the development of what the company describes as "mutation-proof" diagnostics, which can offer earlier and more accurate results than traditional tests that rely on detecting viral proteins or nucleic acids.

The business model encompasses two primary streams: developing an in-house pipeline of products and offering its specialized expertise on a contract basis. Iceni Glycoscience provides bespoke R&D services, nanoparticle technology, and bioconjugation chemistry to clients in the biotech, pharmaceutical, and government research sectors. Revenue is generated through these contract services as well as from grants and investments aimed at commercializing its proprietary products. The company has secured approximately $1.77 million in funding through various rounds, including support from investors like the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and grants from the European Union.

The company's product development is focused on significant infectious diseases affecting both human and animal health. A key product in its pipeline is a duplex lateral flow test designed to rapidly distinguish between influenza and coronavirus in about 15 minutes. Other developments include diagnostics for equine and avian flu and carbohydrate-based therapeutics, such as new vaccines, positioned as potential alternatives to antibiotics. Initially launched as Iceni Diagnostics, the company rebranded to Iceni Glycoscience in early 2022 to reflect its expanded scope beyond diagnostics into therapeutics and its broader platform capabilities in areas like cancer and autoimmunity. The leadership team includes CEO Dr. Martin Stocks, a biotechnology entrepreneur with a background at Yale University and a specialty in commercializing academic technologies, who was appointed in late 2021 to guide the company's market entry.

Keywords: glycoscience, diagnostics, therapeutics, carbohydrate chemistry, glycobiology, infectious disease diagnostics, mutation-proof testing, lateral flow test, viral binding, glycan, bioconjugation, nanoparticle technology, influenza test, coronavirus test, animal health, veterinary diagnostics, antibiotic alternatives, host-pathogen interaction, cell surface carbohydrates, contract research organization